Gary Barlow takes on bats: singer offers to build bat boxes — and gets permission for a garage to house car collection

Singer Gary Barlow has won planning permission to extend his mansion in Oxfordshire, despite objections from conservationists who fear bats could be disturbed by the works. 
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Amira Hashish29 January 2020

Gary Barlow has joined the Celebrity Bat Pack — an exclusive group forced to rethink home renovations because of the presence of the little creatures on their property.

Other members include High Flying Birds frontman Noel Gallagher and TV presenter Kelly Brook who each had plans scuppered thanks to the protected mammals.

Barlow has now agreed with conservationists to install a bat box at his Oxfordshire mansion and in exchange will be allowed to build a garage for his car collection, including a London taxi and this FAB 1 Rolls-Royce.

The singer-songwriter purchased the house for £2.3 million in 2007 and it is now valued at around £6 million.

Why are bats protected?

Bat populations have declined alarmingly in recent years, largely due to the loss of their natural woodland and wild space habitats. They have adapted to roost in houses, barns, churches and under bridges.

"The legal protection afforded to bats means that it is not only a criminal offence to kill a bat, you also commit an offence if you ‘disturb’ a bat [for example, by interfering with its habitat] or if you damage or destroy a bat's roost [where they rest and breed]," says planning barrister Jack Parker, of Cornerstone Barristers.

"Various measures can be used to avoid any impact on bats, such as carrying out work at certain times of year when bats aren't present; by incorporating bat roosts into the development in question, or by making sure that artificial lighting is designed in a way which does not affect bats.

"Work which would disturb bats may only be carried out with a licence, which will only be granted in exceptional circumstances," adds Parker.

Living with bats

Bats are not rodents, so they won't nibble or gnaw at wood, wires or insulation.

They are unlikely to live in the same building all year round, but they usually return to the same roosts year after year.

"It is more common for bats to be affected in the countryside, but lots of bats live in urban areas, often around canals, and so it is not uncommon to find this issue cropping up," says Parker.

It's more likely you'll realise you have roosting bats in your house during summer months, when they are more active.

Selling a home with bats

It's essential that you inform potential buyers of bats in a property, as it may impact the decision to buy. If the information is withheld, it could result in a compensation claim at a later date - for instance if the buyers are refused permission for renovation work.

Visit bats.org.uk for more information.