U.K. estate used as Wayne Manor in "Batman Begins" must be surveyed for bats

A British estate used as a filming location in Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" may be taken from its owners if repair work, including bat surveys, does not commence, according to local council notices.

The stately home was built between 1852 and 1854 in Buckinghamshire, a region in southeast England. It stood in for Wayne Manor in the 2005 superhero blockbuster, which starred Christian Bale and Katie Holmes .

Buckinghamshire Council served the company that owns the estate with a formal listed-buildings repair notice amid reports of deteriorating conditions at the property. CBS News partner BBC News reported that the notice was dated Aug. 4.

The building could be placed on the market – unless the owners show evidence that a licensed bat ecologist has been appointed to conduct surveys. The owners have one month to begin the process and provide evidence, council deputy leader Peter Strachan told CBS News. If the notice is not dealt with, the council could seek government approval to acquire the mansion, though this would be subject to further legal action, according to the BBC.

Mentmore Towers is considered a Grade I heritage building, which means it must have a special architectural or historical interest. Around 2.5% of buildings in the United Kingdom, including Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, are among the Grade I-listed buildings that have been preserved.

The property has been owned by Mentmore Towers Limited since 1999. That company is owned by Simon Halabi, a Syrian-British property developer. In 2007, Halabi was named Britain's 14th richest man, according to The Times . However, in 2010, the tycoon was declared bankrupt over a $76 million loan he received from a failed Icelandic bank .

In addition to being used in "Batman Begins," Mentmore Towers was also featured in other films, including "The Mummy Returns" and "Johnny English." It was also used as a filming location in the Spice Girls' music video for the 1998 song "Goodbye." Before appearing onscreen, it was home to the Rothschild family. But despite its famous past, the building has "fallen into an increasingly worsening state of disrepair over recent years," the council told CBS News.

Historic England, a public body responsible for advising the government on protecting historic sites, lists the building as being in "very bad" condition and at risk of "further rapid deterioration." The organization noted that Mentmore Towers is on its Heritage at Risk register, "which identifies sites most at risk of being lost through neglect, decay or inappropriate development."

The BBC describes the building as having deteriorating roofs, chimneys, rooflights, roof lanterns and leadwork. According to Save Britain's Heritage , an independent charity that works to protect and restore historic buildings in England, permissions to repair the roof were granted in 2016, but the work was not completed.

The ecological survey is the first step of the repair work.