Building homes for people and for nature

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By Beth Barratt-Golding, Features Writer

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. With a steadfast commitment to raising standards in the house-building industry, NHBC supports sustainable development and was pleased to be involved with the Homes for Nature initiative. The scheme, effective from September 2024, will see bird species and hedgehog populations supported as standard on new developments by participating companies.

Understanding the challenge

The State of Nature Report 2023 provides a comprehensive review of species trends across the UK and, sadly, shows that it is now one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. In fact, since 1970 species have declined by 19% on average, and nearly 1 in 6 species are close to extinction.

In response to this decline Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has been introduced as a condition to get planning permission for new development in England and became mandatory in February 2024. BNG directs developers deliver to a biodiversity increase of at least 10% and ensure that habitats are improved measurably to create a better environment than before the development took place.

Of course BNG is not only beneficial for the environment, it can also help communities adapt to climate change by increasing resilience to extremes of weather and improve air and water quality.

Why do we need Homes for Nature?

The loss of nature is not only deeply distressing, it also undermines the economy, weakens food systems and fundamentally erodes people’s health and wellbeing.

However, there are actions we can take for the protection and restoration of the environment. For example planting more trees supports the wider eco-system, could help reduce the risk of flooding and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

The State of Nature Report 2023 also highlights that conservation actions can help to reverse species decline, including targeted species recovery. Since 1995 swift numbers in the UK have halved, placing them on the Red List of highest conservation concern. Similarly hedgehog populations are thought to have fallen by at least 30%, but alarmingly up to as much as 70%, due to the loss of suitable habitat, competition for food and an increase in transport links creating additional road hazards.

That is why the Homes for Nature initiative is so important; the 21 leading house builders that have already committed to the scheme plan to build more than 90,000 homes a year, which will now also mean new spaces for nature. Developed by the Places and Nature Working Group and convened by the Future Homes Hub, the initiative has been informed by technical guidance from organisations such as the RSPB, Action for Swifts and Hedgehog Street.

What will be done to support nature?

Through the Homes for Nature initiative proactive steps can be taken to create places for nature on housing developments.

This includes a bird-nesting brick or box installed for every new home built, which will provide immediate nest sites for birds. This will particularly help swifts and other cavity nesting birds, which have suffered from the loss of man-made habitat, often making a home in holes, under roof tiles or within spaces in the eaves of older buildings.

And, in addition to planting to support pollinators and provide structural diversity, there will also be ‘hedgehog highways’ on all developments creating access points through gardens and open spaces so hedgehogs can move around more easily (and avoid traffic) to find food, shelter and to breed.

Looking ahead

The targeted approach of Homes for Nature will help swifts increase their numbers and support a more stable hedgehog population, but what can be done for other species?

Homes for Nature is a five-year initiative with annual reporting and reviews to understand what progress is being made and has the aim of eventually incorporating additional measures as well. For example, house builders will also be encouraged to include bat roosts, insect bricks and nature-led sustainable drainage systems across developments to support greater biodiversity.

The commitment made by the house builders who are part of the Homes for Nature initiative goes beyond the BNG regulations, but there is still more that can be done to create better places for people by providing space for nature through a consistent, industry-wide approach.

Learn more about sustainable developments by downloading the free report from NHBC Foundation: Biodiversity in new housing developments | NHBC

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