Two 'bat barns' will be popping up in the North Staffordshire countryside to replace buildings demolished as part of HS2.

They will be seven metres high at their tallest point and have around 40 square metres of floor space – roughly equivalent to the average living room.

They are necessary because works on the high speed rail network have seen or will see various buildings along the route knocked down – buildings that the winged rodents would normally roost in.

The bat barns will be sited close to the playing fields in Manor Road, Madeley, and on land north of Snape Road in Baldwin's Gate.

A report to councillors at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council said they've been designed to accommodate brown long-eared bats and will be made with a mix of reclaimed Staffordshire knot bricks and Staffordshire red engineering bricks, with welsh slate roofs.

The barns will be the size of the average living room (LDR).

There will also be some elements of cladding and reclaimed oak.

The report given to councillors said that they will have an attractive and high quality appearance which will blend into the landscape.

The planning officer's report on the Madeley bat house stated: "It is also sited so that it has minimal impact from any main vantage points.

"Soft landscaping and earthworks will also enhance the immediate surrounds and overall the proposed works would not harm the character and quality of the landscape or the local environment and local amenity".

The report on the Baldwin's Gate bat house stated: "The positioning of the bat house means that it would only be visible from longer distance views, and together with the sympathetic form and appearance, there are not considered to be any implications on the local environment or local amenity."

Councillors officers concluded that the bat houses are wouldn't have any negative impacts on archaeology, historical interests or on nature conservation in the area.

READ MORE: Plans put forward to transform former Stoke-on-Trent pub site into new apartments

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