Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond says he is determined to find a way forward with renovation plans at his Georgian mansion in Wales, after rare bats discovered on the property brought building work to a halt.
Hammond, who has lived in the sprawling countryside estate in Herefordshire on the Welsh borders for several years, had been planning to add a padel court and a luxury garage to house his impressive collection of cars. Those plans have now been paused after protected bats were found living in the mansion, triggering legal protections that prevent any work that could disturb them.
Speaking publicly about the situation, Hammond said he intends to find a way to share the space with the animals rather than push ahead regardless. He described the discovery as something he has to work around rather than fight against, which is a pretty reasonable attitude given the legal weight that bat protection carries in the UK.
Bats are among the most protected species in Britain. It is illegal to deliberately disturb, injure or kill a bat, and it is also against the law to damage or destroy any place a bat uses for shelter, even if no bats are present at the time. Any building or renovation work that could affect bats requires a survey carried out by a licensed ecologist, and in many cases a mitigation licence from Natural Resources Wales or Natural England depending on the location.
The species found at the property has been described as rare, which adds another layer of complexity to any future planning applications. Rare bat species often require more detailed surveys and longer monitoring periods before any work can be approved, meaning Hammonds padel court and car garage could be on hold for quite some time.
Padel has exploded in popularity across Wales and the rest of the UK over the last few years. The racket sport, which is played in an enclosed glass and metal court, has attracted a wave of celebrity fans and private court installations have become something of a status symbol among those with the space and budget to build one. Hammond is clearly among those keen to get one installed, though the bats have other ideas for now.
The luxury garage plans will also be familiar territory for anyone who follows Hammond. His passion for cars has been well documented across decades of television work, from Top Gear to The Grand Tour, and a purpose built space to store and work on vehicles would be a natural addition to a large rural estate.
Bat surveys in the UK typically need to be carried out at specific times of year to be valid, with the main survey season running from around April through to October when bats are most active. This means that even if Hammond commissions the necessary surveys immediately, the timeline for getting full planning approval and eventually starting work could stretch well beyond a single year.
Conservation groups have broadly welcomed the pause in works, pointing out that Georgian buildings are particularly important habitats for several bat species in Wales and across Britain. Older structures with their original roof timbers, stone walls and undisturbed roof spaces provide ideal roosting conditions, and many rare bat populations depend on exactly these kinds of buildings.
Hammond has not indicated any intention to challenge the protections or seek to have the bats removed. His comments suggest a pragmatic acceptance that the renovation will need to be redesigned or rescheduled to accommodate the wildlife already calling the mansion home.
It is a situation that many rural homeowners across Wales will recognise. Bat roosts are discovered regularly during renovation projects on older properties, and while the discovery can be frustrating for those mid-project, the legal framework exists for good reason. Several bat species in Wales have seen significant population declines over recent decades, and roost protection is considered one of the most effective tools available to slow that decline.
For now, the padel court and the dream garage will have to wait. Hammond and the bats are, for the time being at least, sharing the mansion on the bats terms.