A LUXURY apartment developer could face prosecution for 'destroying' bat roosts at the former Crossley Hospital site.

A team of seven officers led by PC Steve Turner raided the site with a warrant following intelligence that developer PJ Livesey had started work without a Bat Licence.

Bats are a protected species and a survey commissioned in 2001 produced evidence that brown long-eared bats (Plectus auritas) were found in most of the buildings.

To allow work to begin on a site where a protected species is found developers must apply to Natural England for permission.

PC Turner said at a briefing before the warrant was issued: 'As of 11am this morning the company was not in possession of a licence.

'The developers started work on the site in 2006. We believe numerous offences have been committed in relation to the disturbance of bats and destruction of their habitat.'

The team of officers was split into two groups: n One to go through and photocopy any documents relating to the Bat Licence n Another to video record any evidence of bats or efforts made by the company to re-house them.

PJ Livesey had put in vents in the roof to allow access for the bats and placed bat boxes near the entrance to the Kingsley site park.

Site manager Phillip Gee was taken by surprise at the arrival of the officers and quickly contacted the architect in charge.

The architect claimed that they had commissioned an ecologist to survey the site and applied for a licence, which was denied.

PJ Livesey claim they have an application pending and were given permission to start work.

Martin Findlow, wildlife and environment officer, said: 'We are reviewing all of the evidence along with the paperwork which has been sent to us by the company.

'We will determine by further investigation which members of the company we will be inviting along for an interview.

'It may well end up with case papers being sent to the Crown Prosecution service.'

A spokesperson for PJ Livesey said: 'As a conservation-led company, PJ Livesey is committed to preserving the local environment at all of our sites.

'Initial findings of the officers who were called to Kingsley Park revealed that we have followed all the appropriate guidelines.

'However, we are treating this incident with the utmost urgency and working with our site team, wildlife consultants and the police to review all our operational procedures.'