Plans to build new homes for bats have been submitted by a company hoping to redevelop what was once the world's largest brickworks.The former Stewartby brickworks in Bedfordshire has outline planning consent for 1,000 new homes, a school and community facilities.Property developer Harworth Group acquired the 130-acre (50-hectare) site, which is about six miles from Bedford town centre, last year.

An application has been made to Bedford Borough Council to construct a "bat kiln", to compensate for the loss of bat roosts that currently exist within kiln structures set to be demolished.During the planning process, the site was found to be home to bat roosts including in two former kilns.

''Harworth Group is required to provide alternative roosting habitats before demolishing the existing buildings''- the Local Democracy Service said.

The proposed development at the former Stewartby brickworks in Bedfordshire includes plans to create alternative habitats for bats, as part of the environmental mitigation required for the redevelopment. The developer, Harworth Group, is seeking approval for a “bat kiln” and bat house to accommodate bat species that currently roost in kilns scheduled for demolition. The new structures aim to provide suitable roosting spaces to replace those that will be lost during the demolition process. Additionally, the site is intended for the construction of 1,000 homes, a school, and community facilities. The area could also eventually neighbor a Universal theme park, proposed for a nearby site.

The new kiln would be constructed outside the main development boundary and include 26 bat boxes of various types, to accommodate different species.Harworth Group has also submitted an application to erect a bat house to the west of the site, to mitigate the loss of the bat roost in four structures authorised for removal.The housing site could eventually become neighbour to a Universal theme park, which has been proposed at the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks.

During the planning process, the site was found to be home to bat roosts including in two former kilns.

Harworth Group is required to provide alternative roosting habitats before demolishing the existing buildings, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.The new kiln would be constructed outside the main development boundary and include 26 bat boxes of various types, to accommodate different species.

Harworth Group has also submitted an application to erect a bat house to the west of the site, to mitigate the loss of the bat roost in four structures authorised for removal.The housing site could eventually become neighbour to a Universal theme park, which has been proposed at the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks.

This would involve constructing a new “bat kiln” outside the main development area and setting up a bat house to the west of the site. These measures are aimed at offsetting the loss of the bat roosts that are part of the area’s ecological landscape. The housing development is also part of a broader plan that may eventually neighbor a Universal theme park, proposed for the nearby Kempston Hardwick brickworks.

Madina Mammadova\\EDnews