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Red Squirrel Habitat Fears Halt Housing Project
23 Oct
Summary
- Council refused housing permission due to red squirrel concerns.
- Objectors cited impact on 60 trees and habitat fragmentation.
- Protected red squirrels face risks from development-induced habitat loss.
A council planning committee has refused to grant planning permission for a housing development, citing critical concerns for red squirrels. The proposed plan, located at the former Cumbria Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Workington, was initially recommended for approval by officers.
However, the majority of council members voted against the development due to insufficient information regarding its impact on red squirrels. This decision comes after the application was submitted more than three years ago and received 319 objections. An independent red squirrel survey, received recently, indicated squirrel activity on the site.
Despite proposals to maintain woodland corridors, concerns were raised about a "lag phase" between felling existing trees and new growth, potentially failing to adequately compensate for habitat loss. Red squirrels are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making the removal of their nests a criminal offense.
