Bats hold up St Giles development

Now Paradigm Housing has learned that the plans may be scuppered by colonies of bats using the building for their summer roost.
Lindsay Oakes, development officer at Paradigm Housing, confirmed that demolition cannot start until a bat licence has been awarded by Natural England (the Government's nature conservation agency), a process which takes six weeks and requires the provision of alternative roosts.
However, the bat licence cannot be applied for until Paradigm has obtained a 106 agreement from CDC, which sets out letting conditions for affordable housing units.
If the 106 agreement is delayed, Paradigm may not receive their bat licence before the bats return to roost, which means building will be suspended.
"We're in a race against time," said Mrs Oakes. "If we don't make the bat licence in time, we will have to let the bats have their summer residence there and wait until November to start on site."
This is not the first time that Paradigm's plans for Church Farm House have raised concerns.
Geoffrey Donaldson of Townfield Lane, described the proposed new building as "Cell Block H, with no soul." However, he said that he hoped demolition would not be delayed as the farm house, which has lain empty for two years, has become a magnet for vandalism.
Simon Avery, chairman of the conservation committee, expressed the committee's concern that the new building will be "monolithic" and "lacking the subtlety of the neighbouring Grade I listed church and Grade II listed buildings in the High Street."
Mrs Oakes said: "We have worked hard to comply with planning regulations, taking into account the character of the area. We will be using sympathetic materials, including clay, tiles and timber windows."