Former Chancellor George Osborne has been ordered to make further room for bats as he and fiancé Thea Rogers revamp their very own nest within the nation.
Mr Osborne, 51, and former Downing Road aide Ms Rogers, 40, are planning a Grand Designs-style makeover of their £1.6million Somerset mansion and the protected species have been discovered roosting within the roof.
Mr Osborne had already been given the go-ahead by planners for a swanky new kitchen and wing with a grand new entrance corridor, terrace and backyard.
He additionally desires so as to add a brand new main bedroom to the historic 18th Century stone-built residence, and demolish a conservatory, storage and storerooms.
George Osbourne bought the £1.6 million, 5 bed room, late 18th century Somerset nation retreat in 2020
Bats have been found within the attic of George Osborne and Thea Rogers’ £1.6m mansion
Mr Osborne introduced his engagement to Ms Rogers in April 2021
He has now lodged amended plans together with the removing of a rear ‘catslide’ roof to create a brand new pitched roof to match the entrance of the home.
However a bat survey carried out as a part of the proposed works revealed three totally different species roosting in the primary roof void – widespread pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and serotine.
It implies that he’ll want a particular licence from Pure England earlier than constructing work begins as bats are protected below the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
In a bat report, ecologists stated: ‘The bat surveys recognized three bat species roosting inside the primary roof void. The constructing additionally affords low to reasonable hibernation potential for small numbers of bats.
George Osbourne bought the £1.6 million, 5 bed room, late 18th century Somerset nation retreat in 2020
Planning drawings present how the couple plan to makeover their £1.6million Somerset mansion
‘To compensate for impacts on roosting bats, 4 bat packing containers appropriate for pipistrelle species will probably be put in on mature timber throughout the website previous to works commencing.’
A 25ft-long plank of wooden can even be mounted to the uncovered wall of the home to offer a brief crevice roost for serotine bats which don’t use bat packing containers.
The brand new-look home will characteristic a floor flooring canine room, drawing room, research and cushty with a first-floor dressing room and a brand new main bedroom on the second flooring, taking the full quantity to 6.
A conservatory, storage, workshop and storerooms can even be demolished, and the automotive parking space re-located to make manner for a brand new terrace and backyard.
The protected species have been discovered roosting within the roof of the couple’s £1.6m mansion in Somerset
Bats have been discovered rooting within the roof of the £1.6million Grade II listed mansion in Somerset
Mr Osborne had already been given the go-ahead by planners for a swanky new kitchen and wing with a grand new entrance corridor, terrace and backyard
The brand new-look home will characteristic a floor flooring canine room, drawing room, research and cushty with a first-floor dressing room and a brand new main bedroom on the second flooring
The three acre grounds additionally embrace an orchard, paddock and a copper beech tree planted in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Mr Osborne wants consent as a result of his house is Grade II listed and lies in a chosen conservation space.
Officers at South Somerset Council are anticipated to determine on the revised refurbishment within the New Yr and there have to this point been no objections from neighbours.
The previous high Tory has two different youngsters from his earlier marriage to Frances Howell.
Nonetheless, in July 2019, they introduced that they might be parting methods after 21 years of marriage.
Mr Osborne, who has accomplished a stint as editor on the Night Commonplace, introduced his engagement to Ms Rogers in April 2021.
He informed The Instances that he had ‘most likely by no means been happier in my life’.
Ms Rogers used to work as his chief of workers and was credited with overhauling his picture whereas he was Chancellor.
Earlier this 12 months he purchased a £10 million residence within the coronary heart of Notting Hill with Ms Rogers.
