Suffolk Council will ‘bite the bullet’ in supporting bat house despite objections
A home will be converted into a conservation site, used for research and education
A council has said it was willing to ‘bite the bullet’ and approve a new bat habitat house despite objections from planners.
Babergh councillors were asked this morning to discuss plans to convert a home in Old Rectory Lane, Shimpling, near Bury St Edmunds, into a bat habitat.
The plans, submitted by Jim Buchanan, included the construction of a replacement home on the site as well as the enhancement of a five-acre horse paddock.
The bid was met with some pushback, however, with officers arguing the replacement home would actually be a new home.
In recommending refusal, they said this caveat risked undermining the council’s planning policy document and lead to future applications disregarding it.
This was despite significant support shown for the project, with 14 letters in favour of it submitted to the authority by residents as well as the ward member.
Gill Perkins, CEO of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, told councillors the project was ‘unique’ and would mean a ‘tragic loss to wildlife’ if it was refused.
The bat house, which would also be home to insects, would be used as a conservation building as well as for education and research.
She said: “The site is very well suited as we can start with a blank canvas in what has been an untreated horse paddock for many years.
“The environment underpins everything, we really have got to get that value of nature really embedded in the next generation.”
Craig Beech, the agent, said the site was specifically chosen after a long search and stressed the bat house would be a ‘wildlife haven’ forever due to a legally-binding agreement.
During debate, councillors were asked whether they thought the benefits of the scheme outweighed the risks of not upholding the authority’s policies.
Cllr Margaret Maybury said she thought the council should ‘bite the bullet’ given the potential benefits.
“We need to show that we do think outside the box,” she said. “We do think about the environment, we do think about the education of others.”
Cllr Peter Beer added: “This would be the right time to show we are prepared to bend.”
But some concerns were still raised, with Cllr Isabelle Reece arguing approval of the project would lead to similar applications ‘mushrooming’.
After a lengthy debate, councillors agreed to grant planning permission, subject to conditions, with nine votes for and two against.