A group of residents on the Abbey Estate in Thetford, Norfolk have installed 130 bat boxes on homes and garages in an attempt to delay a proposed major redevelopment by Flagship Group. The developer, which wants to demolish and rebuild almost half of the 1,100 properties and add almost 500 new homes, says promoting biodiversity is “a key part of our vision for the Abbey” and has its own plans to install bat boxes on the estate. Under planning rules, external developers must comply with the legal protection of rare bats.
Fiona Kiane, from the Abbey Action Group, which opposes the plan, said residents had done a lot of research to find out what encourages bats, including in which direction bat boxes should face, and already had bats on the estate. Concerns have been raised about how the estate will cope with an influx of 500 new households, as well as the fact that the redevelopment work could take place over 20 years. South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy supports the installation of bat boxes, saying it is good for the environment.
James Payne, Regeneration Director for Flagship, said the company had engaged with the community since 2019 and that residents’ views had shaped the regeneration. He added that the redevelopment would “create more spaces at the Abbey where people can connect with nature”, promising almost 600 new trees, along with bat and bird boxes. Breckland District Council will decide on the proposals for the Abbey Estate at a later date.
Several species of bat are listed as “rare”, and so developers must ensure they comply with the legal protection of them. The bat boxes are a way for residents of the estate to take back some agency on what is happening to them and show their opposition to the redevelopment. While admitting that the bat plan was “a bit out there”, Cathy Spillane, another member of the Abbey Action Group, said residents were “making a strong signal”. Although the bat boxes are unlikely to stop the redevelopment, it is another way for people to demonstrate their concern
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