Stockport Council has hit the brakes on a £250m regeneration project to decide its next steps after bat roosts were discovered on land earmarked for development.

The Stockport 8 scheme was approved by council planners last year to build a new neighbourhood with 1,300 homes next to the town's iconic viaduct arches.

It was approved on condition that bat surveys would take place in one of the buildings known as the former Comfortable Gill pub, and that the scheme would return to the council's planning committee if bats were found.

Since then surveys revealed there were no bats in the former pub, but four bat roosts were discovered in the Lundy building on plot 2 of the plans, with up to five bats thought to be living there.

Demolishing the Lundy building is a key part of the work so the land can be used as a temporary bus depot when the existing bus depot sitting on plot 1 is removed.

The discovery of the bat roosts at the site has put a break on the plans so the application can go back in front of councillors to decide the next steps.

A Stockport Council report explained the situation: 'A total of four bat roosts were identified within the largest industrial warehouse buildings on land bounded by Chestergate to the north, Kingston Street to the east, Wood Street to the south and Gough Street to the west.

'As the Stockport 8 development requires the demolition of the buildings concerned, a licence from Natural England is required before the buildings are demolished.'

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The report argues that there are 'reasons of over-riding public importance' to justify knocking the building down, because of the huge benefits the project will bring to Stockport.

It added: 'It is the single largest residential regeneration scheme to come forward to date in the town centre west mayoral development corporation area and is of strategic significance for the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

'It will play an important role in meeting the borough's housing needs at a time of

significant undersupply.'

The decision will be taken by councillors on Stockport's planning committee next week on March 19.

Alongside new homes, Stockport 8 will create new spaces for shops and businesses in the town centre.

While the planning application did not include any affordable housing, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation previously said it will commit to 82 affordable homes as part of plot 1B, with more affordables to come in later phases.

Affordable homes are those priced below market rates.

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