Richard Hammond's renovation of his £2million Welsh mansion in turmoil after survey finds EIGHT species of bats hunt and roost on the estate

Richard Hammond's grand plans to renovate his £2million Welsh mansion could be in jeopardy after it was discovered eight species of bats hunt and roost on the estate. The former Top Gear host, 56, bought the six-bedroom Georgian manor house for £1.99million, just shy of the asking price, in March. The TV presenter acquired the estate, in Llanwenarth, Abergavenny, just over a year after he and ex-wife Mindy announced their divorce after 23 years together. The split came soon after the end of The Grand Tour, the show he hosted with Top Gear colleagues Jeremy Clarkson and James May as well as the death of his father.Hammond, who reportedly bought the home with cash, plans to add a heritage-style showroom, library and a memorabilia gallery on the existing plot. The plans would also see the tennis court replaced with a padel court and pavilion.The showroom would house the presenter's extensive car collection, which includes three Porsche 911s, a 1969 Mustang and a 1963 Opel Kadett. However, the ambitious refurbishments have been thrown into question after a survey found eight species of bats currently call the 21-acre estate home. It is illegal to kill, injure, disturb bats or damage their roosts across the UK, with all species protected by both domestic and European legislation. Richard Hammond's grand plans to renovate his £2million Welsh mansion could be in jeopardy after it was discovered eight species of bats hunt and roost on the estate (pictured in 2025) Hammond acquired the estate, in Llanwenarth, Abergavenny, just over a year after he and ex-wife Mindy announced their divorce (the former couple are pictured in October 2023) The estate (pictured) features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a tennis court and a boating lakeThis means that renovation works, such as fixing a roof or building a second storey, are strictly regulated by local and conservation authorities. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) states that development, infrastructure, or maintenance work cannot legally proceed if it will impact bats or their roosts, unless a species mitigation licence has been granted. It also states work must cease immediately if the homeowner or a contracted builder finds evidence of bats mid-renovation.The strict policies means Hammond may have to consider incorporating bat voids or even a bat loft or roof into his renovation plans. Three dusk surveys found eight species of bats living on his property, including brown long-eared, common and soprano pipistrelle. Photos on Monmouthshire council's website taken by a bat surveyor show activity in and outside a stone barn, which Hammond plans to convert into a bar. The surveyor also found access and egress points among the roof tiles of the barn.The report warned that unless preventative measures were taken, the work could cause the loss or disturbance to roosts on the property. The bat surveyor also found access and egress points among the roof tiles of the barn (pictured) in photos shared on Monmouthshire council's website Hammond previously lived in a Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire with MindyThe surveyor concluded: 'This report identifies a legal requirement for the protection of bat roosts and a European Protected Species licence for bats will be required for the proposed conversion and extension to the barn complex. 'Specific measures should be implemented to mitigate disturbance to bats and bat roosts and to compensate for any loss of roosts.'Hammond lodged an application for permission for the scheme with the Monmouthshire council last month. Public consultation and consideration by planners will close on September 16.Neighbours are said to be thrilled by the arrival of the high-profile resident. One said: 'It's great having a celebrity face in town. I've seen him in Waitrose a couple of times and he seems to be settling into life very happily.'Hammond previously lived in a Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire with Mindy and spent time in a rented countryside farmhouse following their divorce. The former couple bought the £7million castle in 2008 with the presenter spending 15 years restoring a listed granary barn on the grounds into his dream 'clubhouse'.There were claims Mr Hammond's family were increasingly exasperated with his extensive travel and risky stunts on The Grand Tour. He suffered an accident while filming the show in Switzerland when the car he was driving crashed and repeatedly flipped over.The £2million Rimac supercar caught fire moments after he managed to escape.In 2006, Hammond suffered life-threatening head injuries and was also in a coma following a high-speed crash while filming Top Gear.His ex-wife Mindy said during a joint appearance on This Morning: 'I did say three strikes and you're out. You've had two goes.'He has one of these every ten years so I've marked the next one in my diary.'