Bats put Bishop's plans in a flap

The pipistrelle bat is protected by law

A bishop's plans to move home could be delayed - by a group of bats who got there first.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds had been waiting for permission to relocate to the new property - but the protected mammals must have an upgrade first.

The outbuildings of Hollin House, in Weetwood, Leeds, are home to colonies of pipistrelle and long-eared bats.

The Rt Rev John Packer wants to convert the space into offices and link it with the main house and chapel.

Diocese officials have already won planning approval to make the alterations but now need to convince English Nature and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the bats will not be disturbed.

'Bats come first'

Church bosses are drawing up plans to create a bat run in the roof space of the outbuilding, also known as the Coach House, and install a heated bat box in another part of the grounds, used as the boiler room.

A spokesman for the Bishop said they did not know how long the delay would be, but hoped the move could take place before the end of the year.

He said: "The bats come first and we will have to see how long that takes. We're keen to do what we can to help them."

The two species of bats are the most common found in Britain but are protected by law.

The move - from Bishop's Mount, in Ripon - is part of a wider project by the Church of England to put bishops in more modest accommodation.

Bishop Packer said: "While our present home in Ripon is delightful, it is far bigger than the Church Commissioners' guidelines."