Brokenshire reminds housebuilders to 'think of the birds'

Housebuilders have stressed their commitment to protecting wildlife living near their developments after the communities secretary James Brokenshire wrote to firms reminding them they had a duty of care to consider the impact of their work on birds and animals.

Recent reports of housebuilders covering nearby hedgerows in netting to prevent birds from nesting near building sites caused consternation among naturalists and Brokenshire reminded developers to take precautionary action where necessary.

In a letter to leading developers Brokenshire wrote that while the building of new homes was vital, every care must be taken to avoid unnecessary loss of habitats for wildlife, including birds.

“Developments should enhance natural environments, not destroy them. Netting trees and hedgerows is only likely to be appropriate where it is genuinely needed to protect birds from harm during development,” he added.

If developers failed to heed their obligation Brokenshire said he would not rule out “further action to protect our country’s valuable ecological system”.

Andrew Whitaker, planning director at the Home Builders Federation, said the industry was committed to “supporting and enhancing bio-diversity, proactively protecting wildlife and providing an overall increase in the number of trees”.

Whitaker said: “Netting trees aligns with the relevant environmental requirements in instances where it has been agreed with the local authority that a tree has to be replaced. The industry is engaging with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to consider how we develop requirements that increase protections for wildlife whilst ensuring desperately needed homes are built without delay.

“Last year housing developments incorporated around nine million trees and shrubs making the industry one of the nation’s biggest providers of new trees.”

The RSPB’s conservation director Martin Harper said if trees and hedges needed to be removed it should be done outside nesting season and then those lost trees replaced with new ones.

“However, if there is absolutely no alternative, then netting must be used sparingly in line with the legal duties and responsibilities on developers, including regular checks to ensure wildlife isn’t getting trapped, injured or worse,” Harper added.

In another development, a new guide published in conjunction with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust hopes to raise awareness among housebuilders of the impact construction can have on hedgehogs.

A guide, Hedgehog Street, offers tips on how to make ‘Hedgehog Highways’, spotting hedgehog hazards on sites, land management advice for completed developments, and advice on how to survey for hedgehogs in the area.