Developer guilty of damaging badger sett

A national housing developer has been found guilty of damaging an established badger sett at Churchlands in Lisvane, Cardiff.

Redrow Homes admitted their guilt during their development in Churchlands, Cardiff of damaging a large and established active Badger Sett.

Redrow Homes secured planning permission to construct more than 1,000 homes, open spaces, and a school at Churchlands in the Lisvane area of north Cardiff.

In the heart of the development area was a large, established badger sett, which identified by Redrow in 2012 during initial scoping works at the site.  The sett was fully active and occupied by a badger community up to the present day.

Despite having an on-board ecologist, Redrow Homes damaged the badger sett by digging in footings for a large four-bedroom detached house within four metres of the sett entrances.

They did not have a licence in place to disturb the badger sett, only applying for one after the Local Authority Ecologist approached the developer, pointing out that they appeared to be wilfully ignoring legislation concerning the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Following a site visit by police officers in February 2024, further disturbance had occurred with a trench dug across the sett causing flood water to run into the sett’s chambers. February is the time that a badger sett can be expected to house newborn cubs. This action will have had devastating consequences on the year’s breeding cycle for the sett.

PC Mark Powell ,on secondment with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Industry Regulation team, said:

“Officers from NRW are successfully working with police forces across Wales, and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, to investigate and prosecute those responsible for committing wildlife and rural crime offences.

“In this instance, Redrow Homes admitted their guilt and were formally dealt with by way of a Community Resolution. As part of the terms within that Resolution, Redrow lost the opportunity to build the detached house advertised for sale on their own website for £567,000. They also agreed to commission the construction of an artificial badger sett at their own costs, approaching £25,000, which was sighted at a secure location on land that they also own. That sett is now also active.

“I welcome the cooperation from Redrow Homes. They accepted their error and worked to resolve their offending. Fortunately, the original sett is still active and the new artificial sett, a national first in Wales, is also doing well.

“Hopefully Redrow will work more carefully and utilise the advice and guidance of Natural Resources Wales Species Team and ecologists. This outcome will go a long way to deter others from committing future offences."

To report an environmental incident, please contact NRW’s Incident communication line open 24/7, on 0300 065 3000.

To report an environmental crime please call 101.

In an emergency, always dial 999.