Plans for a £33 million school in Angus may be affected by the discovery of a colony of bats.
Angus Council has lodged an application for planning permission for a new Forfar Academy, which could be finished by 2017. However, consultants have found buildings earmarked for demolition to be teeming with pteropine tenants.
RSK Environments say mitigation measures must be put in place before the bulldozer can move in.
“Dawn and emergence” surveys last July and August found soprano pipistrelle bats active in the main school building, emerging from and returning to gaps in walls and lead flashing.
The school and adjacent community wing are to be demolished in favour of a hub closer to the A926 Kirriemuir road.
Consultant Ruth Morton said: “As bat roosts are present in buildings which will be demolished, a European Protected Species licence from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is required prior to demolition of the buildings.
“The buildings are not due to be demolished until 2016, therefore update surveys in 2015 will be required to inform the licence.
“As we have already carried out two surveys, the update surveys should include a further two to inform the licence application.
“The survey results from the current surveys can be used to inform the planning application and a licence can only be submitted to SNH once planning permission has been given.”
Angus Council’s planning submission followed the conclusion of public consultation on September 23. The proposal includes a 1,270-pupil secondary school and the redevelopment of its grounds off Taylor Street.
Ms Morton added: “As these bat roosts will be lost during the demolition, suitable mitigation and compensation relating to bats at the site will need to be put in place.
“This will include timing of the demolition works as well as removal of features by hand to ensure no bats are harmed.
“Compensation for roosting bats at the site will also be required. This can include erecting bat boxes throughout the school site, either on suitable trees or on the new school buildings.”