A developer that carried out demolition work at a Greenwich site known to be inhabited by bats has been handed a £600,000 fine, the largest ever issued by a court for a wildlife crime, according to police.
Bellway Homes admitted damaging or destroying a breeding site or resting place in Artillery Place, Greenwich, in 2018, where soprano pipistrelle bats had been documented the previous year.
All species of the animal within the UK are protected and the company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £30,000.
Bellway Homes also agreed to make a £20,000 donation to the Bat Conservation Trust, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said the fine was the largest ever issued by a court in relation to a wildlife crime, and Inspector David Hawtin praised officers Sergeant Simon Henderson and Police Constable Giles Balestrini for their roles in the complex investigation.
"With the expert assistance of colleagues from specialist units within the Met, the officers constructed evidence to prove that the company had indeed committed an offence by carrying out work at a site where bats were known to inhabit," he said.
"Bellway Homes has admitted responsibility for this and I hope it reinforces the message that this legislation is there for a reason and should be adhered to."
The firm pleaded guilty to damaging or destroying a breeding site or resting place of a wild animal of a European protected species between March 17 and August 17 2018 at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday.
Police said Bellway homes carried out demolition work after soprano pipistrelle bats had been documented at the site in 2017.
The company had been notified in planning documents that they would first need to obtain the appropriate mitigation and a Natural England European Protected Species licence.
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