Newts delay football training ground and housing development

Contractor McLaren had only 77 weeks to complete the state-of-the-art ground since being commissioned by the football club last summer. Situated on a former 18-hole golf course, some of which has been retained, the site contained a number of ponds home to the protected species. As they could only be removed under licence from Natural England and only when ambient temperatures are above 5°C, at least one rival firm was put off from bidding, according to reports.