See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA and JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER Published: 12:09 BST, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 15:38 BST, 3 September 2026
Richard Hammond's plans to renovate his £2million mansion are in jeopardy after it was discovered eight species of bats hunt and roost on the estate. The former Top Gear host, 56, plans to make extensive additions to the to the six-bedroom Georgian manor house in Wales, including adding a heritage-style showroom to house his extensive car collection, a library and a memorabilia gallery.The plans would also see the tennis court replaced with a padel court and pavilion.However, the ambitious refurbishments have been thrown into question after a survey found eight species of bats currently call the 21-acre estate home. It is illegal to kill, injure, disturb bats or damage their roosts across the UK, with all species protected by both domestic and European legislation. This means that renovation works, such as fixing a roof or building a second storey, are strictly regulated by local and conservation authorities.The presenter bought the home for £1.99million in March - just over a year after he and ex-wife Mindy announced their divorce after 23 years together. He reportedly bought the home in cash. Richard Hammond's grand plans to renovate his £2million Welsh mansion are in jeopardy after it was discovered eight species of bats hunt and roost on the estate Hammond acquired the estate, in Llanwenarth, Abergavenny, just over a year after he and ex-wife Mindy announced their divorce. Pictured together in 2023 The estate features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a tennis court and a boating lakeNatural Resources Wales (NRW) states that development, infrastructure or maintenance work cannot legally proceed if it will impact bats or their roosts, unless a species mitigation licence has been granted. It also states work must cease immediately if the homeowner or a contracted builder finds evidence of bats mid-renovation.The strict policies means Hammond may have to consider adding artificial roosting environments for the bats. Three dusk surveys - nocturnal wildlife assessments - found eight species of bats living on his property, including brown long-eared, common and soprano pipistrelle. Photos on Monmouthshire council's website taken by a bat surveyor show activity in and outside a stone barn, which Hammond plans to convert into a bar. The surveyor also found access and eexit points among the roof tiles of the barn.The report warned that unless preventative measures were taken, the work could cause the loss or disturbance to roosts on the property. The bat surveyor also found access and egress points among the roof tiles of the barn in photos shared on Monmouthshire council's website Hammond previously lived in a Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire with MindyThe surveyor concluded: 'This report identifies a legal requirement for the protection of bat roosts and a European Protected Species licence for bats will be required for the proposed conversion and extension to the barn complex. 'Specific measures should be implemented to mitigate disturbance to bats and bat roosts and to compensate for any loss of roosts.'Hammond lodged an application for permission for the scheme with the Monmouthshire council last month. Public consultation and consideration by planners will close on September 16.However, neighbours are said to be thrilled by the arrival of the high-profile resident. One said: 'It's great having a celebrity face in town. I've seen him in Waitrose a couple of times and he seems to be settling into life very happily.'Hammond previously lived in a Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire with Mindy and spent time in a rented countryside farmhouse following their divorce. The former couple bought the £7million castle in 2008 with the presenter spending 15 years restoring a listed granary barn on the grounds into his dream 'clubhouse'.The couple split soon after his show The Grand Tour ended, which he hosted with Top Gear colleagues Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as the death of his father.There were claims Mr Hammond's family were increasingly exasperated with his extensive travel and risky stunts on The Grand Tour. He suffered an accident in 2017 while filming the show in Switzerland when the car he was driving crashed and repeatedly flipped over. The £2million Rimac supercar caught fire moments after he managed to escape.In 2006, Hammond suffered life-threatening head injuries and was also in a coma following a high-speed crash while filming Top Gear.His ex-wife Mindy said during a joint appearance on This Morning: 'I did say three strikes and you're out. You've had two goes.'He has one of these every ten years so I've marked the next one in my diary.'
