56 BUILDING FABRIC
Wienerberger: The changing shape of biodiversity in the built environment
have access to a wide range of solutions to help achieve the necessary ecological enhancements and ensure biodiversity net gain. Often these will work together to help contribute to the net gain required. For example, Eco-habitats provide a
fuss-free and inexpensive option, ready to be integrated into the fabric of a building as it is built or renovated, they are produced with care to make installation easy.
W
ith developers facing greater pressure to improve sustainability and biodi- versity measures, Wienerberger has
launched a new specialist report exploring the role of Eco-habitats in the drive for Biodiversity Net Gain. The Changing Shape of Biodiversity in the
Built Environment has been prepared by environmental specialists at Wienerberger, addressing the challenges faced by the construction industry as they seek to meet enhanced Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. It sets out the regulatory drivers that are shaping modern developments, including the National Planning Policy Framework and Environment Act 2021, as well as changing consumer attitudes to outdoor spaces. The specialist report introduces the benefits
of Eco-habitats such as bird boxes, bat boxes and bee bricks, providing a range of fuss-free solutions that can provide supplementary enhancements within a Biodiversity Net Gain report. Experts from Wienerberger also offer installation and placement tips to help maximise nesting opportunities. It is available to download for free from
Wienerberger’s website, providing a vital resource for anybody involved in the planning, design and construction of new buildings.
WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS DO? Homebuyers and commercial property tenants have become more aware of both the environment as well as their own wellbeing, therefore, buildings that support local wildlife to create better outdoor spaces will become more attractive to buyers and users. By planning for nature, developers can help building users to reconnect with nature. But
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this relies on making informed, data-driven decisions on projects which are shaped by early communication and collaboration. There are of course a number of measures
that housebuilders and developers can take to achieve the required ecological enhancements and help ensure biodiversity net gain. Often these will work together to contribute to the net gain required. The most important point is that such
measures no longer need to be costly or complex. Housebuilders and developers now
ECO-HABITATS Eco-habitats are supplementary measures that can help to promote biodiversity at a develop- ment site. Whilst they don’t specifically earn credits in Biodiversity Net Gain calculations, they provide a simple way to supplement biodiver- sity improvements and can still be included within a project’s Biodiversity Net Gain report. Eco-habitats can be introduced as supplementary enhancements to provide durable and discreet habitats for British birds, bats, bees and other species. Bird boxes are tailored to individual species such as swifts, starlings and sparrows, providing space for nesting and roosting which is safe from predators. These are usually constructed using insulating concrete block which provides an internal roost space, with access holes to suit different species, before cladded with a brick face to match the building fabric. Bat boxes are also solid boxes made of
insulating concrete that provide an internal roost space and cladded appropriately. Suitable for most species commonly found in the UK, the single chambered unit features an integrated V system to increase the surface for bats to roost against, whilst allowing freedom of movement. Other eco-habitats include solitary bee
bricks, produced to UK brick size format so they
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