The land is part of a grade 2 listed farm house. The land is also home to the Great Crested Newt which is a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981*, The borderline hedge was taken out to commence building before planning permissions were granted by Chester Council, after to the police for wildlife crimes, and to Chester Council, reinforcement officer Michelle Hewitt was investigating the case, since the time of reporting in the offence (21 March 2012) and today (2nd May 2012) Paul Friston - Major projects manager for Cheshire and Chester confirms to me that planning permission was granted between this time (after the date demolition took place) so there was no time for locals to appeal to the council - because it had already happened. The land used to be Greenbelt but has been moved in recent years to make way for foreign owned coperate car show rooms. The removal of the Newts has been done without a degrodation licence from Natural England. The Newts are being removed to an unknown location for conservation provided by the Church Commissioners, who sold the once green belt land for building. * It is also a European Protected Species and as such it has additional protection in the UK under Regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (the Habitats Regulations), as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. It is an offence to: Intentionally kill, injure or take a Great Crested Newt Possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a Great Crested Newt Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection by a Great Crested Newt (in practice this means both its breeding sites, and its terrestrial habitat) Intentionally or recklessly disturb a Great Crested Newt while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose