Bird netting at Chatsworth House

The application to net parts of Chatsworth House was determined in early 2019. In determining the application consideration was made of the legal requirement to protect the Grade 1 listed building and statuary, as well as the legal requirement to protect nesting birds. The application was made due to concerns over stonework damage on a building designated for its exceptional architectural and historic interest, and over health risks associated with visitors and users of the property from bird droppings falling from nests at height.

You can read the delegated report online.

In permitting the development it was recognised that the netting would inherently reduce nesting on the affected façades of the building, but also that other bird nesting locations are available in the vicinity. The areas of exclusion netting have been limited, with most involving individual facade sculptures being ‘wrapped’. In order to ensure that the ecological interests were protected, it was a requirement of the planning permission that a bird mitigation strategy be produced and implemented. This was submitted earlier this year (2020) by ecological consultants and proposed nesting cups were affixed to other suitable areas of the house. Following consultation with the Peak District National Park Authority the mitigation scheme was approved.

Further analysis in April 2020 of earlier site surveys has identified additional species that may be affected by the netting (house martins), and specially-designed nesting cups have also been installed for these birds on the site. This is further to nests for swallows and swifts already installed at the site.

Chatsworth House have confirmed they will monitor netted areas to assess any impact on wildlife as a result of their installation.