UK HOUSEBUILDERS have signed up to a new initiative to support wildlife on their new development sites.

The Homes for Nature commitment will see a bird-nesting brick or box installed for every new home built. Additionally, hedgehog highways will be created as standard on every new development taken through planning from September 2024, for participating companies.

The largest 20 housebuilders, who build around 90,000 homes a year, are signed up to the voluntary commitment. The goal is to provide a minimum of the 300,000 nesting bricks and boxes thought to be required to support swift populations and other bird species across the country.

In addition to integrated nest bricks, boxes and hedgehog highways, housebuilders are being encouraged to incorporate additional features, such as bat roosts, insect bricks and hibernacula.

Away from the home, nature-led sustainable urban drainage systems and pollinator-friendly landscaping are also being encouraged on new developments.

Homes for Nature was developed by the industry-led On Site Nature Measures Working Group, convened by the Future Homes Hub. This is an independent organisation to enable the new homes sector to meet climate and environmental challenges.

The commitment is in addition to the recently implemented Biodiversity Net Gain regulations, which require all new developments to achieve 10% more wildlife.

Ed Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Future Homes Hub, said: “Homes for Nature is a fantastic opportunity to create many more homes for wildlife, bring people closer to nature and at the same time provide a helping hand to some much-loved and critically endangered species.

“A commitment to installing integral nest bricks or boxes and creating hedgehog highways as standard is a simple but effective way to support our precious wildlife, including the iconic swift and hedgehog.”

Homes for Nature

The scheme will come into effect in September 2024 for all new planning applications. The initiative will run until at least 2030. Annual reporting will track progress and identify further suitable measures that could be introduced to support other wildlife.

Becky Ingham, Chief Executive of Action for Swifts, said: “For centuries swifts have shared our buildings and homes by nesting in the nooks and crannnies of old style buildings. In recent years the loss of nesting sites has had a major detrimental effect on this Red-Listed species.

“It’s heartening to now see the commitment from so many major developers towards installing integral bricks, which will last the lifetime of the building and provide our Swifts and other cavity nesting birds with long-term habitat.”

Housebuilders

Many homebuilders already have commitments to deliver measures for nature on new developments, however this initiative aims to support a consistent, industry-wide approach. A range of large and SME homebuilders have made the commitment and all other homebuilders are being encouraged to join the initiative.

Jo Stott, Associate Director Environmental Sustainability at Miller Homes and chair of the working group, said: “Nature underpins our economy, provides the food, clean air and water we all need and yet everywhere it is under intense threat. Through Homes for Nature we are making a small change, but that small change could create a significant benefit for nature and for the people who come to live in the communities we develop.”

The On Site Nature Measures Working Group is now working with organisations such as the RSPB, Action for Swifts, Hedgehog Street, and the NHBC to develop the technical and customer guidance for installation of the nature measures across development sites.

Nigel Symes, Head of Business Conservation Strategy at the RSPB, said: “We know that these measures work, and are truly encouraged that the home building sector is coming together and committing to delivering them at scale. Meanwhile, providing for nature will, we are sure, create better places for people.”

The commitment currently applies to low rise houses, with further work underway with industry to identify an appropriate nature positive approach for new apartments and high-rise buildings.

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