Badgers, bats, water voles and great crested newts could delay the march of progress at a developing army base.

Council officers have ordered that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out before works get underway at Kendrew Barracks – the former RAF Cottesmore in Rutland.

The base is due to undergo a major multi-million pound refurbishment as it prepares to house other units from around the country.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) last year awarded a £237million contract to Bovis Construction to carry out work at Kendrew, as well as at the Bulwell Army Reserve Centre, in Nottinghamshire.

Kendrew Barracks has been promised new and improved living, working and training accommodation, with construction scheduled to start this autumn.

As part of the development, army chiefs must ask Rutland Council about any possible impact of the works on the environment.

Ecology officer Lottie Green wrote in her report: "Having reviewed the site plans and reviewing the site's surroundings I would suggest that an environmental impact assessment should be produced. 

"There is a deciduous woodland within proximity of the proposed works and there are records of great crested newts and and bats within 2km of the site. There are multiple records of great crested newts within close proximity of the development and also records of badger, bats and water vole within 2km of the site. 

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"An environmental impact assessment should be undertaken to determine if the development will impact protected species and habitats."

Accommodation for junior ranks, regimental offices, and medical and catering facilities will be delivered at Kendrew alongside 'additional supporting infrastructure'.

The Cottesmore base currently houses several units including the 1st and 2nd Royal Anglians, 7 Force Logistics Regiment and the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment.

36 Engineer Regiment will also relocate to Kendrew from Maidstone, in Kent, while other units will move from Grantham, Telford and Nottingham as the Army looks to dispose of several sites.

The Army says as well as improving living, working and training environments, the Kendrew Barracks project will support unit cohesion and operational effectiveness.

(Header image by Mat Fascione via Geograph.org.uk)