The Cowshed: Award-Winning Barn Conversion

Overview: 

Wildwood Ecology supported the sensitive conversion of Porch Barn, formerly a single-storey cowshed and a separate two-storey bull-pen, into a single dwelling. As part of the planning submission to Cotswold District Council, we undertook an ecological appraisal and confirmed the presence of a day roost used by common pipistrelle bat. Following planning approval, Wildwood Ecology secured a Bat Mitigation Class Licence (BMCL) from Natural England, enabling the development to proceed lawfully. Our work ensured full compliance with relevant legislation and local planning policy, safeguarding protected species while supporting the sustainable reuse of a traditional agricultural building.

Challenge

The project presented several ecological and practical challenges. The former cowshed and bull-pen were located on different levels and were not internally connected, complicating access for surveys and assessment. A confirmed day roost of common pipistrelle bat introduced legal constraints requiring careful planning to avoid disturbance and ensure compliance with wildlife legislation and local policy. The project team also faced tight timescales and the added complexity of multiple consents running concurrently, all of which required careful ecological coordination to ensure compliance and prevent delays. Balancing the architectural objectives with the needs of a protected species became a key challenge during the early stages of the project.

Approach

A licensed and experienced bat ecologist led the project from the outset, undertaking the required surveys and preparing the successful BMCL application. We worked closely with architect Lydia Robinson at Design Storey to ensure ecological requirements were fully integrated without compromising the design intent. Prior to works commencing, a licensed ecologist carried out a detailed pre-commencement inspection of the roof to confirm that no bats were present and that the works could proceed lawfully.

Wildwood Ecology took responsibility for installing the required bat box in an ecologically suitable location and provided clear guidance on future maintenance and sensitive lighting to protect the roosting environment. We remained available to the contractor throughout the remainder of the conversion to provide support should any ecological issues arise, ensuring the project progressed smoothly and in full compliance with licence conditions.