Rock guitarist’s renovation plans could be held up by protected bats discovery

A rock guitarist’s renovation plans could be held up after protected bats were discovered.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson are seeking to restore and convert four timber-framed outbuildings at their Grade-II listed 17th-century farmhouse near Billingshurst, according to multiple national news outlets.

The barns are described as “decaying”, with one requiring “urgent structural attention to prevent collapse”.

However, an ecological impact assessment, commissioned as part of the planning process, has identified seven bat roosts across the site, three of which would be lost during the proposed works.

Under UK law, bats and their roosts are protected, meaning that damaging or disturbing them without a licence is an offence.

One of the affected barns at Mr Gilmour’s property (Image: Pullen Architecture)

According to the ecological report, a European Protected Species Mitigation Licence must be obtained from Natural England to lawfully destroy, damage, or cause obstruction to the bat roosts.

Bat droppings were found in three out of the four barns, with DNA analysis confirming the presence of soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared, barbastelle, whiskered and Natterer’s species.

Bat droppings were found in three of the barns proposed for conversion (Image: Pullen Architecture)

The outbuildings include a former threshing barn, animal sheds, stables, and a cart barn.

Several mitigation measures at the site have been proposed including the installation of bat boxes, the use of bat-friendly roofing membranes, and the inclusion of bat access tiles in the final scheme.

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Additional ecological constraints on the site include nesting birds, reptiles, great crested newts, and hedgehogs.

The proposals also incorporate mitigation for these species, including timing restrictions to avoid disturbance during sensitive periods and the retention of key habitats.

The plans have not yet been decided upon by Horsham District Council.

Mr Gilmour also owns a property in Hove, which was recently slashed in price to £8.95 million after being listed for £15 million three years ago.

Pink Floyd, formed in 1965, is one of England’s most successful rock bands, with more than 250 million records sold.

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