Bat delaying our new car park, says Games Workshop
On Tuesday, Games Workshop said a common pipistrelle microbat had been found on a site near the company's Nottingham headquarters where bosses are trying to build a new car park.
The winged creatures – generally small enough to fit into a matchbox – are protected by law, meaning developers must put in place mitigations when disrupting their habitats.
Games Workshop said the temporary new car park was being created at its sprawling campus headquarters on a Nottingham industrial estate, which houses two manufacturing plants as well as the Warhammer World hobby shop.
The FTSE 100 company revealed the bat problem as it provided an update on its finances to investors, assuring them things looked 'solid' despite some disruption from Donald Trump's tariffs in the US.
It said things were 'in line with our detailed operational plans and policies', before adding: 'The exception was the news about tariffs and the cute-looking pipistrelle bat that is delaying our work on our new temporary car park.
'We are carefully looking after the bat and we hope the uncertainty around tariffs is resolved soon.'
Planning battle
It comes after Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, complained that planning rules were holding back the economy.
She said businesses should be able to 'focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about the bats and the newts'.
HS2, the rail mega-project, also sparked controversy when it emerged that £100m had been spent on a 1km-long 'bat shed' designed to protect a colony of bats from 225mph trains.
The tunnel-like structure covers tracks near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
However, under reforms of regulators announced in March, ministers have taken aim at what they say are disproportionate bat-related restrictions.
At the time Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said: 'It should not be the case that to convert a garage or outbuilding you need to wade through hundreds of pages of guidance on bats.
'Environmental guidance, including on protecting bats, will be looked at afresh.
'Natural England has agreed to review and update their advice to Local Planning Authorities on bats to ensure there is clear, proportionate and accessible advice available.'
Under the changes, the Government ordered Natural England, the nature watchdog, to remove all references to the Bat Conservation Trust from its guidance.
The trust has hit back, arguing it is false to suggest 'that in order to grow the economy we must sacrifice our natural heritage'.
A statement published by the group in January said: 'Pitting nature against development is dangerous, irresponsible and unnecessary.
'The language being used by government ministers is divisive and ignores the pragmatic and sustainable ways that could be used to build more homes and infrastructure.
'Rather than using soundbite politics, it is time for the Government to work with Bat Conservation Trust and others to find pragmatic solutions that will benefit the economy, society and wildlife.'
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