Housebuilder hit with record £600,000 wildlife fine for destroying single bat roost
The company bulldozed a building in Woolwich, London, without removing the bat roost first
11 December 2020 • 4:08pm
A pipistrelle bat. The £600,000 fine dwarfs the previous record for disturbing a bat roost, of £18,820, given in 2019.
Credit: PA
Destroying the home of a single bat has landed a housing company with a £600,000 fine, the largest ever for a wildlife crime.
Bellway Homes bulldozed a former car showroom in Woolwich, south east London, for a housing development, without getting permission from Natural England to disturb the soprano pipistrelle roost.
A bat survey carried out in June 2017 observed a single bat returning to a day roost in the building between a window and fascia board.