Scotland makes swift bricks mandatory in new builds – everything you need to know
The new law means wildlife are protected in any builds in Scotland with direct consequences for homeowners, developers and anyone planning a build.
Swift bricks, which are bricks birds are able to nest in are becoming a mandatory feature of any new buildings in Scotland.
This is under new laws put in place by the Scottish Parliament.
The decision has been made due to a decline in the cavity-nesting birds such as swifts.
The population of these birds has fallen as modern buildings no longer have nesting spaces.
But how will this move impact future planning permissions and construction costs? Could other wildlife protections will come into builds in the future… and will this be ruled out across the UK?
What are swift bricks?
Swift bricks are hollow bricks which allow birds such as swifts, sparrows and starlings to nest safely inside walls.
They’re designed to integrate seamlessly with construction without impacting the structural needs of a build.
What is the new rule on swift bricks?
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill proposed by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell had the amendment to have swift bricks.
The law states that nesting spaces for cavity-nesting birds such as swifts must be included in any new developments and builds ‘where reasonably practical and appropriate’.
The new amendment proposed in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill will now enter a 12month consultation period.
This is to see how it will be applied to building regulations, including the exact requirements and specifications.
If you’re a homeowner planning a self-build or extension project in Scotland, this will help to clarify exactly what will legally be necessary for your project to go ahead.
What it means if you’re starting a project in Scotland
The changes could influence your planning application, and also any building costs. Although, officials stress the impact is set to be minimal so don’t despair just yet.
The policy is described as a low-cost, long-term intervention, with the idea being to help put natures recovery at the heart of everyday construction projects.
Mark Ruskell explains: “The solution to this is incredibly simple – it is literally a brick with a hole in it and costs around £30, and once it’s built in, it’s there for decades,” he said.
He added: “It doesn’t block housebuilding, it doesn’t add red tape, and it doesn’t push up costs in any meaningful way.
It just makes sure that when we build new homes and workplaces, we leave space for wildlife too.”
Guidance is expected to be provided on the installation of the bricks, how they should be placed, and the exact rules of compliance as part of building standards.
However, it’s important to note that this change is only going to be applied to new projects, there is no current requirement for any existing homes to retrofit the swift bricks.
Although, conservation groups do encourage voluntary installation where possible.
Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government Minister responsible for the Bill, said: “This iconic species was once a very common sight across Scotland, particularly in urban areas, but they are under threat, declining by 60% since 1995.
Any practical ways we can encourage them back and improve biodiversity are important to consider.”
Will this be implemented across the UK?
The move in Scotland comes as swift bricks for all new homes is expected to be implemented.
However, crucially it hasn’t been mentioned for these to be required in all homes in England.
Carl Bunnage, the RSPB’s head of nature policy in England comments: “Widespread nature-friendly building design hasn’t and won’t be achieved merely through guidance that can be ignored.
This was a golden opportunity for the UK Government to put nature at the heart of the system.
Instead, even though costing peanuts to deliver, it chose to prioritise developers’ profits over the wellbeing of people and nature.”
The main takeaway from this for us, is the shift in priority for considering a builds impact on wildlife and biodiversity across the construction scene, and it will be interesting to see if anything else is put into place going forward.
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