Richard Hammond’s extensive renovations of his Grade II-listed Welsh manor could be held up yet again – this time by archaeological remains.
There’s also concerns from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) that the overhaul could pollute the nearby River Usk which is in a strict special area of conservation (SAC).
This is only two weeks after Hammond said he’ll ‘find a way to share’ the £2million manor with eight bat species which had thrown the project into doubt.
The 56-year-old planned extensive additions to the six-bedroom Georgian manor house including adding a heritage-style showroom to house his extensive car collection, a library and a memorabilia gallery.
The tennis court would also be replaced with a padel court and pavilion.
The presenter bought the home in Llanwenarth, Monmouthshire for £1.99million in March – just over a year after he and his ex-wife Mindy announced their divorce after 23 years together.
He was determined to carry on with his renovations despite the bat issue, where it’s illegal to kill, injure, disturb bats or damage their roosts, telling the BBC: ‘If I have to share it with the bats, I’ll find a way of sharing it with the bats.’
Now The Trust for Welsh Archaeology has thrown a new spanner in the works.
Richard Hammond bought his home in Llanwenarth, Monmouthshire for £1.99million in March
Pictured: Richard Hammond’s Welsh Manor. The 56-year-old planned extensive additions to the six-bedroom Georgian home including adding a heritage-style showroom to house his extensive car collection, a library and a memorabilia gallery
The house is believed to have been built in 1817 with further extensions later in the 19th and 20th century.
While the society had no issues with the demolition to the later dated buildings, it pulled up Hammond’s planning team on the garage plans.
Stating in docs: ’The proposed new garage building is situated within the area of the former kitchen garden, and earlier glasshouse outbuildings. Traces of the former pathways, as depicted on the historic OS mapping, can be seen on modern aerial photography.
‘Therefore, we concur that there is potential for earlier remains and features, especially associated with the kitchen garden, to be encountered during any
groundworks undertaken within this area.’
To mitigate this, they’re asking for a ‘detailed written scheme of investigation for a programme of archaeological work to protect the buried archaeological resource’ undertaken by an accredited archaeologist.
They’re not the only organisation concerned about the impact of the renovations.
NRW has stated in a letter they have ‘concerns’ as there is a ‘watercoure’ which is connected to the River Usk.
Hammond’s renovation projects had already faced a setback after eight species of bats were found living in his home. They were born in the roof of the barn (circled)
It links to an area of the river which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the River Usk SAC.
‘We have concerns that an adverse effect from the proposed development on the SAC cannot be ruled out due to the potential for construction pollution to impact water quality of the river,’ states the letter.
Further adding: ‘No development or phase of development, including site clearance, shall commence until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.’
This includes a construction timetable and management plan and demonstrate pollution prevention.
It states that Monmouthshire Council must make the planning decision on the ‘significant effect on a SAC site’ and the Construction Environmental Management Plan needs to be detailed enough as ‘we consider the proposed development has the potential to damage the River Usk SSSI.’
Adding: ‘We therefore advise you [the council] to consider whether the proposals, as submitted, would increase the volume of foul discharge from the site in planning terms.
‘Ultimately it is a matter of judgment for you, as Competent Authority, to satisfy yourselves that the proposed development will not result in a significant effect on the SAC.’
It comes after three dusk surveys detected eight species of bats on the property, including brown long-eared, common and soprano pipistrelle.
The report warned that unless preventative measures were taken, the work could cause the loss or disturbance of roosts on the property.
It also states Hammond must obtain a protected species development licence before work can proceed.
Photos on Monmouthshire council’s website taken by a bat surveyor show activity in and outside a stone barn, which Hammond plans to convert into a bar. The surveyor also found access and exit points among the roof tiles of the barn.
NRW states that development, infrastructure or maintenance work cannot legally proceed if it will affect bats or their roosts, unless a species mitigation licence has been granted.
It also states work must cease immediately if the homeowner or a contracted builder finds evidence of bats mid-renovation.