UK housebuilders have signed a new major initiative to support local wildlife in their new developments from September 2024.

The Homes for Nature commitment will see a bird-nesting brick or box installed for every new home built, as well as hedgehog highways created as standard on every new development from the commencement date.

Almost 20 homebuilders from around the UK, who build more than 90,000 homes a year, have already signed the voluntary commitment.

Signifying a major step towards providing the minimum of 300,000 nesting bricks and boxes thought to be required to support swift populations and many more bird species across the country.

Housebuilders are also encouraged, as part of the commitment, to incorporate additional features, such as bat roosts, insect bricks and hibernacula.

The Homes for Nature commitment – developed by On-Site Nature Measures Working Group, convened by the Future Homes Hub – will be in addition to the recently implemented biodiversity net gain regulations.

While there are currently individual commitments from companies in place to deliver nature supporting measures on new developments, this initiative aims to provide a consistent, industry-wide approach.

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

Barratt Developments, Bellway, Bloor Homes, Cala Homes, Crest Nicholson, Croudace Homes, Deanfield Homes, Duchy of Cornwall, Durkan Homes, Hayfield Homes, Keepmoat, Miller Homes, Orbit Homes, Persimmon, Redrow, Strata Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Thakeham and Vistry Group have all pledged their commitment to the initiative.

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