Boris Johnson’s plans for £4million nation residence held up by newts

He has been warned that his proposals for a swimming pool on the seventeenth century home in Oxfordshire may disturb their habitat.

Planners say permission for the venture mustn’t go forward with out a go to to evaluate its impression on nice crested newts residing close by.

South Oxfordshire district council warned in a report that the scheme put the creatures within the “red zone of highest risk”.

Edward Church, the council’s countryside officer, mentioned: “There are known populations of great crested newts in the east of the village.

“Mapping shows that there is a pond onsite and a moat immediately adjacent to the southern boundary, both well within 250 metres of the position of the proposed pool.

“I am of the opinion that there is a reasonable likelihood that great crested news are present and could be impacted by the proposed development.”

Conservationists imagine Mr Johnson faces the prospect of ready as much as a 12 months for clearance or paying for the newts to be relocated.

The ex-Tory chief took situation with the animals in a 2020 speech which sought to kickstart progress following the primary coronavirus wave.

Taking a swipe at hold-ups attributable to wildlife issues, he mentioned: “Newt-counting delays are a massive drag on the productivity and the prosperity of this country”.

Vengeance got here when he submitted an software for the seventeenth Century manor home he shares with spouse Carrie and their three youngsters.

As effectively as a tennis courtroom, he needs a 36ftx13ft out of doors pool within the grounds of the nine-bedroom moated property.

The legislation prevents nice crested newts and their eggs from being killed, captured or injured, and it’s unlawful to break their breeding locations.

Oxfordshire’s archaeological consultants had already objected to the pool as a result of it dangers disturbing the location of a twelfth century fort’s moat.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire additionally factors out that his software doesn’t embrace a scheme to stop mild air pollution.