Bat discovery halts housing scheme at former Wakefield primary

The discovery of a bat has delayed plans to demolish a derelict former primary school to make way for a housing development.

Transcript

00:00The discovery of a bat has delayed the demolition of this long derelict former primary school

00:07in Wakefield, a year marked for redevelopment in the new housing.

00:12The flying animal was found while work was getting underway at the Old Waterton Junior

00:17and Infant School in Lupset, where plans are in place for 27 new homes to be built by social

00:23housing provider Beko Homes.

00:26Regeneration was due to be completed by autumn 2025, but Wakefield Council says the find

00:31will now add months to the programme.

00:33Speaking to councillors at a Regeneration Scrutiny Committee meeting, the Council's Strategic

00:38Housing Service Manager, Joanne Hill, said all the appropriate surveys had been carried

00:43out before work began.

00:45She said the authority had done everything we could have done, including carrying out

00:50the correct tests and having specialists assess the building.

00:54Despite that, work had to be paused once the bat was discovered.

00:59Bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and it can be an offence to internationally

01:05or recklessly disturb them or obstruct access to their shelter.

01:10Natural England must issue a licence before any work that could harm them is allowed to

01:15continue.

01:16Miss Hill told councillors the process was unavoidable, describing bats as a very precious and protected

01:22species, but said the delay was the nature of development.

01:26Bats are