And finally… Warhammer expansion put on bat burner

And finally... Warhammer expansion put on bat burner

Games Workshop, the company behind the globally popular Warhammer game, has revealed that the presence of a single bat is delaying its plans to expand operations in Nottingham.

The FTSE 100 firm announced that a common pipistrelle bat, one of the UK’s smallest bat species, had been discovered on a plot of land near its headquarters, where it had planned to build a temporary car park. Due to legal protections surrounding bats and their habitats, the discovery has triggered ecological protocols that must be followed before any construction can proceed.

The site in question sits within Games Workshop’s headquarters campus on a Nottingham industrial estate, home to two production facilities and the flagship Warhammer World store.



The unexpected wildlife encounter was disclosed in the company’s latest investor update. While noting that performance remained solid despite some pressure from US tariffs, the company acknowledged the bat had caused an unanticipated delay.

“All operations remain in line with our detailed plans and policies,” the update said. “The exception was the news about tariffs—and the cute-looking pipistrelle bat delaying our work on the new temporary car park. We’re taking care to protect the bat while we manage the situation.”

This incident comes as the Government debates whether current environmental regulations are unnecessarily hampering development. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has recently criticised planning rules, arguing that businesses should be able to build without being hindered by concerns over bats and newts.

The issue has echoed in other major infrastructure projects. HS2 drew criticism after spending £100 million on a one-kilometre “bat tunnel” to shield bats from the high-speed railway.



In response, ministers launched a review of environmental guidance in March, tasking Natural England with simplifying advice for local planning authorities. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said developers shouldn’t have to navigate “hundreds of pages” just to convert a garage.

However, conservation groups have pushed back. The Bat Conservation Trust criticised the narrative that protecting nature is incompatible with economic growth. In a statement earlier this year, the group said: “Pitting nature against development is dangerous, irresponsible and unnecessary.”

The Trust called for collaboration with government and industry to develop pragmatic solutions that benefit both wildlife and the economy.


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