SIR Gareth Southgate has kicked off plans to turn a barn into a gym at his £3.25million country mansion – but will have to make room for BATS.
The former manager, 55, also wants to add a ground floor sauna and shower with a new first floor open plan office and meeting table in a -style makeover of his Yorkshire home.
Gareth is planning a Grand Designs-style makeover at his £3m mansionCredit: Unknown
But his plans have been interrupted by bats roosting in his barnCredit: AP
Gareth and wife Alison bought the property in 2006Credit: Getty Images
But a survey carried out ahead of the proposed development revealed that the huge 85 x 39ft natural stone barn is being used as a roost by bats – a protected species.
More than 60 brown long-eared bats were spotted emerging from the building along with two common pipistrelles and one soprano pipistrelle, and more than 1,000 droppings were found.
It means Sir will have to apply for a special licence from conservationists Natural England before building work starts.
And he will have to build a special bat loft spanning the entire length of the barn with a total of nine access points, with eight bat boxes put up in nearby trees.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb or destroy a bat roost.
Sir Gareth’s six-bedroom rural retreat boasts a cinema, wine cellar, library and 4.5-acre gardens. It was built in 1575 and is Grade I listed.
As part of the proposed barn conversion, an existing orangery and garden room will be refurbished with an informal seating area, kitchenette and bar.
In a statement, his planning agent said: “We believe the building is now in need of a substantial refurbishment before time and weather cause the structure to deteriorate any further.
“The scheme has no adverse impact on neighbours or its wider landscape setting.”
Officials at his local council expected to make a decision on the proposed barn conversion in the New Year and there have so far been no objections from neighbours.
Sir Gareth and his wife Alison bought the property in 2006 – and some locals believe it’s haunted by the ghost of Henry Robinson.
According to The History Of The Timbles And Snowden by historian William Grainge, Henry grew up in a cottage close to the mansion in the 16th century.
He is said to have moved to London in search of fortune – where he robbed the homes of those dying from the Great Plague.
Henry is later said to have loaned money to a man called Francis Wood to build a house in Harrogate.
But Francis was unable to repay him – so Henry took the house back.
It is claimed that Henry couldn’t get over the guilt of stealing from his dying victims so took to washing his loot in the local spring.
Some locals claim his ghost has been spotted at the water still washing the coins.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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