Arsenal legend Tony Adams has won in a unique renovation challenge at his £3.5 million Cotswolds mansion. After a two-year effort, Adams has gained approval to transform his stables into a luxurious guest annex.

However, the project faced an unexpected obstacle: the presence of protected bat species. Adams’ commitment to both his renovation vision and wildlife conservation led to a creative solution.

Tony Adams has successfully concluded a two-year effort to transform stables into a guest annex at his £3.5 million mansion in the Cotswolds, overcoming obstacles presented by bats residing in the structure.

The 57-year-old, along with his wife Poppy Teacher, an heiress to a whisky fortune, plans to convert what used to be a snooker room into a two-bedroom guest house, complete with skylights.

A wildlife survey identified that the building, constructed from Cotswold stone, serves as a nocturnal shelter for several species of bats, including the lesser horseshoe, serotine, and brown long-eared bats, all of which are protected.

Cotswold Council approved the renovation, stipulating that Adams must provide a specific bat loft within an adjacent garage and gym to accommodate the bats.