FPCR secured a Bat Mitigation Class Licence (BMCL) following a series of surveys undertaken at the former Doncaster Monk Bridge in Leeds over the summer in 2019. The site is characterised by a Grade II-listed 20 span former Victorian railway viaduct, which forms a bridge across the site and links the site with the adjacent Leeds-Liverpool Canal and River Aire. Plans include the creation of new flats, bars and restaurants, as well as a new public park, inspired by New York’s famous ‘Highline’, creating a distinctive bridge top green space.
FPCR worked collaboratively with other disciplines to deliver a range of innovative ecological enhancements, with a key aspect including a distinctive bridge top green space. In addition, this will function as a wildlife corridor to create habitat linkage between the canal in the east and the railway to the west of the site.
FPCR also developed a bespoke bat mitigation scheme, given the heritage value of the site and its unsuitability for conventional replacement roosts within the spans, designing bespoke bat roosts to be incorporated within former signal boxes. Along with appropriate lighting strategies, this helped ensure the scheme received unanimous approval from Leeds planning committee, with the chair stating “it was the most exciting scheme he had seen in 30 years.” This is a great success, headed by the staff at our York office.
