AN out-of-date bat survey is a cause for concern for parish councillors in Worcester.

At last Monday's St Peter's Parish Council meeting, members raised objections to a planning application to convert a grade II listed barn into six homes because a bat survey was carried out in 2005.

Chairman Ross McFarlane said the study, which was out-of-date when a previous application was submitted, needed updating.

Worcester City Council's planning department is considering Rushton Trading Ltd's revised application for land next to the Timberdine pub in St Peter's Drive, Worcester.

Original applications were submitted for the conversion of the barn to form six homes and the construction of three new homes These were refused because this was classed as an over-development of the site. Appeals were lodged, which were subsequently dismissed.

Further applications have since been refused because no evidence has been provided to demonstrate that converting the barn is the only way the building could be economically re-used.