A LUXURY apartment developer could face prosecution because it is alleged it began work at the Crossley Hospital site without a Bat Licence.
A team of seven officers led by PC Steve Turner raided the PJ Livesey site with a warrant.
Bats are a protected species and a survey commissioned in 2001 showed 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 per mission.
Developers started work on the site in 2006 and police claimed numerous offences had been committed in relation to the disturbance of bats and destruction of their habitat.
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 Park site.
Site manager Phillip Gee was taken by surprise at the arrival of the officers and contacted the architect in charge.
The architect claimed it had commissioned an ecologist to survey the site and applied for a licence, which was denied.
PJ Livesey claims it has an application pending and was given permission to start work.
Environment and wildlife officer Martin Findlow said: 'We are reviewing the evidence along with the paperwork which has been sent to us by the company.
'It may well end up with case papers being sent to the Crown Prosecution service.'
A PJ Livesey spokesman 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 called to Kingsley Park revealed we have followed all the guidelines and provided all the required access and nesting sites for the local bat population at this development.
'However, we are treating this with the utmost urgency and are working with our site team, wildlife consultants and the police to review all our operational procedures at this site.'
