Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was partway through renovating his Georgian mansion – when an unexpected discovery forced his works to come to a halt.
Hammond has been renovating his 19th-century mansion in Llanwenarth, a small village just outside Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, since he bought it late last year. Work was underway to add a significant car garage for Hammond’s collection of historic cars, as well as general alterations and repairs within the property. The house is set within 21 acres of land, on which Hammond planned to add a padel court and pavilion to replace an existing tennis court. Unfortunately for Hammond, some local bats had different ideas.
A survey revealed that several species of bat, including the common pipistrelle, soprano, brown long-eared, noctule and Leisler’s bats, were discovered in the grounds of Hammond’s new home. He will have to apply for a protected species development licence to be able to continue with the renovations, with the proposed barn conversion now under threat.
‘If I have to share it with the bats, I’ll find a way of sharing it with the bats,’ Hammond told BBC Wales upon discovering the news. ‘You don't move somewhere as beautiful as this and expect to stamp out everything that already lives there... I'm sure there's room for the bats and me in Abergavenny.’
In the UK, all bat species and their roosts are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, meaning it is an offence to disturb bats or interfere with their roosts and breeding sites.
What to do if you find bats during a house renovation
The first thing to do if you find bats during a house renovation is stop work immediately. Make sure the bats are safe from immediate danger, dust and falling building debris. Leave the bats – and their roost – well alone, or you could face prosecution, fines and even imprisonment. Remember – even if you only see one bat, you still need to stop and seek advice.
You should then contact the Bat Conservation Trust or a professional ecologist for guidance, obtaining a specialised mitigation licence – issued by National England, Natural Resources Wales and NatureScot – if your renovations plan to alter a roost area in any way. You can contact the National Bat Helpline directly or find a professional ecologist or environmental manager via the CIEEM directory.
Other protected species you might come across during a house renovation
Bats aren’t the only species to be aware of when you’re undertaking renovation works. Nesting birds are also protected species, with swifts, sparrows, swallows and barn owls often discovered nesting in roof spaces or chimneys. As with bats, these nests cannot be moved or destroyed, so you need to seek similar advice before starting building work again.
Amphibians and reptiles are worth keeping an eye out for too, as newts, frogs and lizards can use cellars, outbuildings or gardens for shelter, and many of these are protected species.
Top image: Richard Hammond looks on during qualifying, ahead of the London E-Prix, Round 16 of the 2025 FIA Formula E World Championship at ExCel London (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E)
