On Tuesday 23rd January 2017 Knightspur Homes, a real estate company based in London, pleaded guilty at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court to three offences relating to the destruction of a bat roost contrary to the Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations 2010.  

In 2015 an ecology survey was commissioned at Eden Hall Estate, Edenbridge, Kent to support a planning application for a proposed development of the property.  This survey revealed the presence of a number of species of bats throughout the property and stated that a licence from Natural England would be required before any work was carried out on certain buildings at the location.

In August 2016 it was seen that one of the buildings that had been identified in the survey as containing roosting bats had been demolished, no licence as required for this process had been applied for or issued.

The matter was reported to the Kent Police who subsequently carried out an investigation with the assistance of the Bat Conservation Trust and NWCU. After some excellent work between Kent Police and the CPS, summonses were laid against Knightspur Homes.

At the hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates court a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) order was made and the case was adjourned to Maidstone Crown Court (date to be fixed) for the POCA hearing and sentencing.