A £2.4m school extension is being held up because environmental rules mean ecologists have to wait for grass to grow so they can test it before it is dug up.

Acle Academy (Image: Newsquest)

The project, which is designed to create new school places at Acle Academy, has come to a standstill because of government biodiversity regulations.

Under the plans, an area of grass will be concreted over and the eco-rules mean that appropriate replacement habitats for wildlife must be created elsewhere.

However, ecologists say they cannot yet assess the grass - to see what measures are needed to replace it - because they have to wait for it to grow.

Acle Academy (Image: Denise Bradley)

The delay has been criticised by politicians who say it lacks "common sense".

It comes at time of growing national concern over the impact of regulations on major infrastructure projects and the delays and rising expenses they can cause.

In Norfolk, the Western Link road project has been effectively scrapped because of rules relating to bats, while an ongoing study into endangered snails whose presence is holding up the dualling of the Acle Straight is........

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