BATS and owls could scupper plans for a £2.7million visitor centre.

Wildlife surveys at Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, have found an abundance of long-eared and pipistrelle bats as well as barn owls living in a former explosives factory.

Yet Basildon Council hopes to convert the site into an "eco-friendly" heritage and education centre and the plan is a key part of the £5million park upgrade. This would include an extension to the factory to allow for a foyer, reception, offices and extra car-parking.

New heritage trails are also planned, along with the creation of a viewing balcony at the new centre.

Yet the wildlife report indicates the work will upset the established colonies of bats and owls. The council will need a licence from organisation Natural England to do the work.

The reports states: "A mitigation plan will be needed to protect the animals during development and accommodate them.

"They will still need access to roosts or have alternatives provided."

The news comes as several traders, who face losing their shops, continue their campaign against the plans.

Nearly 1,000 visitors have signed a petition calling on the council to ensure there is space for a cafe and craft units in the revamp.

Council spokesman Chris Johnson said plans were being drawn up to provide a permanent habitat for bats and owls on the outside of the building.

He said: "The plan is a bid to transform the redundant two-storey building into a model for environmental sustainability.

"The centre would be heated by a bio mass wood chip burner, fuelled by trees grown on the former Pitsea landfill site.

"This would make the building carbon neutral and see hundreds of new trees planted.

"The centre also features a living roof, tiled in special sedum plants that would keep the centre insulated in winter, and cool in summer, and provide habitat for invertebrates."