A man who wants to build a new house in his garden has been criticised for disrupting a ‘hedgehog highway’ which could lead to the creatures being hit by cars.

The applicant, Ian Bartholomew of Carnation Road in Swaythling, has put in a planning proposal to Southampton City Council to build a three-bedroom house.

This would be attached to his corner semi-detached home, taking over the side garden – and turning the block into terraces.

There have been five objections from residents over parking and over development – but the consistent objection is the impact the new ‘concrete jungle’ will have on the hedgehogs that call the green space home.

Being only a hundred metres away from the Daisy Dip, the garden is known to be a route for hedgehogs and features on the Hedgehog Street map.

One objector said he was worried hedgehogs would end up using roads, putting them at risk.

They said: “I am concerned about the potential impact of the proposed development on the wildlife in the area.

“It has been observed that hedgehogs frequently traverse the area between 37 Lobelia Road and through 46, 44, 42 and 40 Carnation Road by passing through the back-garden fences and on to Daisy Dip.

“However, I am concerned that the installation of new fencing may disrupt this unofficial hedgehog highway and force hedgehogs to utilise pathways and main roads, which could potentially pose a risk to their safety.”

According to objectors, this isn’t the first time number 46 has caused disturbance to the hedgehogs.

An objector said: “Two hedgehogs that were hibernating on the boundary hedge have already been disturbed by the previous renovation at 46, and they were awake through the cold snap of December 21/22.”

Planning officers at the city council have said that the plans have been amended to ‘ensure boundary treatments do not prevent hedgehogs from passing through the site’.

They said: “A condition can be imposed that requires the submission of boundary treatment details to ensure the required gaps are incorporated into the finished design.”

The council’s biodiversity officer has not objected to the proposal but has recommended a planning condition of including an ecological mitigation statement which will prove that hedgehogs can continue on their route.

A decision is due on Tuesday.