Bat boxes added to city's new music venue

A total of 20 bat boxes and 20 bird boxes have been put up on the outside of the building

Conservationists have praised the addition of bat and bird boxes to the new Bradford Live music venue.

Workers used a hydraulic platform to install 40 boxes on the outside of the former Odeon cinema which is undergoing a multi million-pound refit before reopening.

The boxes were part of the planning conditions set down by Bradford Council for the refurbishment of the building which is in a conservation area.

Jane Liddle of the West Yorkshire Bat Group (WYBG) said: "Building work can take away the habitat of bats so this is very welcome."

Bradford Council had asked for the boxes to be installed

Chris Morrell, director of Bradford Live, the company developing the building, said: "We are obviously keen not to impact any local wildlife.

"There are 20 bat boxes and 20 bird boxes; many are at a high level, so not visible."

He said a survey before building work began showed no evidence of bats in the area.

The West Yorkshire Bat Group said pipistrelle bats were the most likely to use the boxes

Ms Liddle said the move was "admirable", adding: "It's probably most likely that pipistrelle bats will use them."

There are eight species of bat found in the Bradford District, according to the WYBG.

They are: Common pipistrelle; Soprano pipistrelle; Brown long-eared; Daubenton's; Noctule; Leisler's; Whiskered and Brandt's (very similar species); and Natterer's.

Bats and their roosts are protected by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 against reckless or intentional disturbance, injury or death.

Bat species in England are under threat due to loss of roosting locations and foraging habitat in built-up areas and the countryside.

Building work on Bradford Live is scheduled to finish on time, developers say

Mr Morrell said the project was on schedule to be handed over to promoter NEC next month.

Concerns have been growing about whether NEC - which is tasked with bringing in artists - was still attached to the project.

The firm has not commented despite being approached by the BBC but Mr Morrell said it remained under contract with Bradford Live.

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