Concern potential housing site is home to rare bat

Concerns a rare bat could be present at a potential housing site, have been raised by campaigners opposed to development.

East Devon District Council is working to finalise its draft local plan which identifies sites where building projects could be suitable, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Matthew Hart said he lived "a stone's throw" away from the site of proposed housing development Exmo_20 and having found a dead Barbastelle bat in his garden its presence warranted consideration over whether to include the land in the plan.

The council said none of its assessments had indicated Barbastelle bats were within or near the site.

According to the Bat Conservation Trust, Barbastelle bats are a "rare and distinctive species".

Hart produced a pair of toy bats from his pockets at the council meeting as he told of his discovery of the dead bat, and said: "Go on, vote for knowingly promoting the destruction of habitat of this endangered species."

He said the bat was "very susceptible to disturbance, loss of habitat and light pollution", stating he believed the council was "ignoring the evidence" that pointed to the sensitivity of Exmo_20.

"It's your irresponsible behaviour that is promoting the destruction of habitat which led to the need for the habitat's regulations," he said.

The Exmo_20 proposal is for a neighbourhood of new homes, and the site is near Grade II-listed St John in the Wilderness Church and heaths.

The council is working to finalise its draft local plan and while a site's inclusion does not guarantee planning permission, it means developers may propose schemes there.

Campaigners said in a neighbourhood plan created by Exmouth Town Council in 2019, the bat's presence was identified in an 800m (2,625ft) buffer zone between the Pebblebed Heaths and the boundary at which development in Exmouth should stop.

Officials at East Devon have stated the area of land being discussed by the town council related to green space between Exmouth and Lympstone and was 1.5km (0.9 miles) away from the proposed Exmo_20 site.

East Devon District Council said the reference to the Barbastelle bat in Exmouth Town's neighbourhood plan related to a different plot of land.

"We do not therefore consider that the neighbourhood plan is suggesting that Barbastelle bats are present at Exmo_20," a council spokesperson said.

"None of our assessment work has indicated the presence of Barbastelle bats within or near the Exmo_20 site."

Devon Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has also raised concerns about the site.

A spokesperson said the proposal had raised "environmental and biodiversity impacts".

"We are very concerned about this site being allocated for such a huge amount of development in such a sensitive area," they added.

A council spokesperson said: "The Habitat Regulations Assessment for the new local plan found that a 400m buffer provides suitable mitigation against the potential impacts of development on nearby protected habitats."

The council is aiming to send its draft local plan to government inspectors by the end of the year.

The government ultimately decides if the plan is sound and can be adopted.

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