A housing developer has been fined £600,000 after knowingly demolishing the roost of a protected bat species.
Bellway Homes admitted destroying a breeding site for soprano pipistrelle bats in Artillery Place, Greenwich, south-east London in 2018.
Police said it was the largest ever fine issued by a court for a wildlife crime. All bats within the UK are European Protected Species.
The company was also ordered to pay £31,000 costs at Woolwich Crown Court.
Bellway Homes agreed to make a voluntary donation of £20,000 to the Bat Conservation Trust.
The bats were found in an abandoned building after Bellway Homes commissioned a survey on the site in 2017.
Developer fined £600k for destroying Greenwich bat roost - BBC News
Bellway Homes admitted destroying a breeding site for soprano pipistrelle bats in Artillery Place, Greenwich, south-east London in 2018.
Police said it was the largest ever fine issued by a court for a wildlife crime. All bats within the UK are European Protected Species.
The company was also ordered to pay £31,000 costs at Woolwich Crown Court.
Bellway Homes agreed to make a voluntary donation of £20,000 to the Bat Conservation Trust.
The bats were found in an abandoned building after Bellway Homes commissioned a survey on the site in 2017.
Developer fined £600k for destroying Greenwich bat roost - BBC News