An inspector found the benefits of six new homes would be ‘modest’ and would not ‘outweigh the harm to biodiversity interests’
Plans to convert a disused Baptist church into flats have been refused due to a dispute over bat protections.
The former Pisgah Baptist Church in Talywain, Torfaen, has been vacant for six years and would have been converted into six flats in a development that the county council acknowledged would have provided “much-needed housing”.
But the application was first refused last October after the developer, Beth Jones, disputed the council’s position that she should carry out further checks of whether bats were roosting in the 1820 church.
A preliminary roost survey in April last year found no evidence of bats internally or externally but did identify some potential “roosting features”.
The report recommended two further dusk emergence surveys be carried out during May and September – months described as “optimum bat season”.
Ms Jones’ agent suggested that the council grant permission and stipulate the further surveys be attached as a condition of the development going ahead.
But the council said that was not acceptable because of a need to establish any potential “adverse impact on bats”, which are a protected species.
That position has now been upheld by an independent planning inspector after Ms Jones appealed to the Welsh Government.
The inspector, C Sweet, said they considered it a “reasonable likelihood” bats were present in the building based on its condition and their observations.
Sweet pointed to the Welsh Government’s technical advice notice which “makes clear that it is essential” the presence of protected species is established before planning permission is granted.
The inspector added: “The proposal would make some contribution to the supply of housing locally and may also result in a degree of benefit to the local economy.
“However such benefits would be modest and would not outweigh the harm to biodiversity interests that I have identified.”
