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Developers fined thousands for destroying tiny bat home

 Published on: 10th April 2019   |   By: News Desk   |   Category: Uncategorized

A company has been fined £18,000 for illegally destroying a building where protected bats were known to roost. 

Landrose Developments were fined £18,820 at Brent Magistrates Court on Friday, April 5 after pleading guilty to destroying the breeding site and resting place of a European Protected Species (EPS), named Pipistrelle Bat.

The court heard how the company was involved in the demolition and re-development of a detached bungalow in Dennis Lane, Stanmore in October 2016. 

The plans were submitted to demolish and redevelop the property in 2011 and subsequent ecological survey of the premises revealed the presence of Pipistrelle bats within the property. 

The presence of the bats meant that the building could not be demolished without a European Protected Species License (EPSL) and appropriate mitigation in place. 

It was raised to the owner of the property that demolition without an EPSL or appropriate mitigation would destroy a roost and constitute an offence under the Conservation of Species and Habitat Regulations. 

However, despite being aware of the existence of two bats at the location, the property was demolished, under the authority of Landrose Developments, in October 2016 without any measures in place to protect the bats. 

Police were alerted to the demolition of the property in July 2017 and an investigation commenced by the Met’s wildlife crime unit and Harrow’s designated wildlife crime officer. 

The development company was charged with destroying a bat roost on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, after attending a voluntary interview at Colindale Police Station. 

DC Gary Redshaw, lead investigation said: “All 18 UK species of bats are EPS and are protected under the conservation of Species and Habitats Regulations. 

“This makes it an offence to capture, injure, kill or disturb an EPS or destroy their breeding site or resting place. 

“The development company was clearly aware of the bats existence but proceeded to destroy their resting place anyway.”

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