 Boris Johnson has been granted permission to build a swimming pool at his £3.8 million moated manor despite concerns it could impact newts. The development at Boris's Oxfordshire manor was initially put on hold because of concerns it would be near to a population of great crested newts. South Oxfordshire District Council has confirmed it can go ahead at the Grade-II Brightwell Manor providing work is carried out to mitigate risks to the newts. The ex-PM has vowed to 'do whatever it takes' to protect the newts, including building 'newt motels'. This also includes plans to enhance an orchard already present to make up for a loss of biodiversity caused by the development. The council confirmed the applicant had opted to use its district level licence to provide compensation in the case of damage to local amphibians. Local councils have a duty to check developers have plans to mitigate building work's impact on animals. The proposed 11-by-four-metre swimming pool would would sit 35m from the moat and 80m from a pond, an area suitable for great crested newts according to a local conservation officer. Brightwell Manor is Boris Johnson's Oxfordshire home (Picture: Mansion Global/Wessex News Agency) The great crested newt is a protected species (Picture: Getty Images) Boris has vowed to do 'whatever it takes' to protect the newts (Picture: Getty Images) It is controversial because the newt population is in decline and they are considered a protected species. It is an offence to deliberately kill, capture, injure, or damage newt breeding sites and resting places. When Boris Johnson was prime minister he argued 'newt counting' was holding back housebuilding. But in a Daily Mail column, he said he would do 'whatever it takes' to protect the newts. He said the rules may 'sound barmy' but added the UK must protect the){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Boris Johnson has been granted permission to build a swimming pool at his £3.8 million moated manor despite concerns it could impact newts.
The development at Boris’s Oxfordshire manor was initially put on hold because of concerns it would be near to a population of great crested newts.
South Oxfordshire District Council has confirmed it can go ahead at the Grade-II Brightwell Manor providing work is carried out to mitigate risks to the newts.
The ex-PM has vowed to ‘do whatever it takes’ to protect the newts, including building ‘newt motels’.