Animals could be crushed in building work, a planning committee will hear this week.

Representations to protect local badgers have been made in a letter regarding the plan to demolish an existing house and build two new ones in Cottenham Park Road, Wimbledon.

The application has gone to this month's committee on June 22 "due to the number of objections received".

A neighbour sent an email to Merton Council's planning department stating he had seen a badger "snuffling in the undergrowth" on the boundary of the property on May 26. They said it reinforces their belief that badgers are active in the area.

Badgers and their burrows are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in England and Wales. The RSPCA says in some circumstances government adviser Natural England may grant a licence allowing the badgers to be carefully excluded, making them move elsewhere in their territory.

An assessment was subsequently carried out this month, which concluded "evidence of foraging badgers and/or other mammals was identified on site, including snuffle holes, droppings and mammal runs." Snuffle holes are holes made by badgers digging for food.

The report by Darwin Ecology Ltd concluded badgers may be passing through the site while foraging, but are not using it to nest.

It said a burrow, believed to be used by foxes, needs to be dug back under supervision of an ecologist to ensure mammals are not crushed during development. It also said any new fencing on site should allow access to animals.

A biodiversity officer commenting on the application approved the recommendations made in the badger report.

Eight representations against the development were received by planning officers. Other objections include "inaccurate" information on plans, the overlooking and intrusion on privacy of properties to the rear of the site, that the building is not in keeping with the local context, and the overdevelopment of the site and surrounding area.