A property development company based in Queen’s Park has admitted illegally destroying a bat roost despite being warned twice that they were nesting inside buildings earmarked for demolition.

Today (17th Sept) at Hendon Magistrates’ Court, City and Westminster Developments Ltd pleaded guilty to offences under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

The court heard the company, which is based in Aston Mews in Kilburn Lane, ignored advice from two surveyors that the building had a high probability of being home to the protected Common Pipistrelle bats by carrying out the demolition.

The company were advised to carry out a second inspection after a first ecological survey showed there was a high probability the building was roosting bats.

It paid a different company to do the second inspection after the first surveyors refused its request to alter the probability to low.

Despite a second survey identifying it was roosting bats, a number flew out of three out of the four buildings during the inspection, the company went ahead with the demolition on August 19.

The company was reported to the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit and today it was fined £4,500, with £450 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Author: Lorraine King

Source: Brent & Kilburn Times

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