School demolition delayed after bat discovered

The discovery of a bat has delayed plans to demolish a former primary school to make way for a housing development.

It was spotted as work was being carried out at the old Waterton Junior and Infants School in Wakefield, which closed in 2011.

The location, in Lupset, has been earmarked for the construction of 27 new homes by social housing provider Vico Homes. Work to flatten the site had been due to be completed in autumn 2025.

Bats are legally protected in the UK, with the work delayed in order to apply for the green light to allow demolition work to continue.

It is illegal to damage, disturb or kill a bat and its roosting place without a special licence from Natural England.

Joanne Hill, Wakefield Council's service manager for strategic housing, told councillors about the delay during a meeting of the authority's regeneration scrutiny committee.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said: "We started demolition and unfortunately a bat was discovered, even though we had done everything we could have done.

"We did all the right tests and had the right people look at the building."

The school, dating back to the 1950s, was closed due to falling pupil numbers and it was merged with nearby Snapethorpe Primary School.

Hill told the meeting: "We had to pause, unfortunately, and go through all the right bat processes.

"They are a very precious and protected species so we absolutely have to do it, but it will add months to the programme."

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