Lukewarm Whitehall response to Hannah's petition for swift bricks to be made compulsory in new housing

Swift campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor

AN attempt to compel housebuilders to incorporate swift bricks into their developments has met with a courteous response from Whitehall - but not much else.

Hannah Bourne-Taylor enjoyed immense mainstream media publicity when, scantily clothed, she launched her petition in London last month.

The official response reads as follows: "We welcome actions by developers to provide swift bricks, but Government considers this a matter for local authorities depending upon the specific circumstances of each site.

"The Government welcomes any action by individual developers who wish to provide swift bricks, and the benefits are set out in our Planning Practice Guidance on the Natural Environment (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment )

"However, we will not be legislating to compel local authorities or developers to include particular forms of green infrastructure in every development. 

"In some high density schemes, the provision of swift bricks might be inappropriate.

"In other places, it could not achieve the desired connectivity for wildlife."

The statement continues: "For the natural environment to thrive, we need both local authorities and developers to understand the natural characteristics of each site and to take proportionate and reasonable action relevant to that location.

"Planning conditions or obligations can, in appropriate circumstances, be used to require that a planning permission provides for works that will measurably increase biodiversity. 

"Local authorities can prioritise specific species such as swifts, and we have seen this from  Brighton and Hove Council. 

"We are also introducing new Local Nature Recovery Strategies which are tools designed to help local authorities plan proactively for nature."

"As with all our policies, this area continues to evolve and develop, balancing the very laudable different priorities of supporting people into home ownership with protecting and enhancing our natural environment - both of which we want to achieve. 

"The Government will continue to review and bring forward proposals in this policy area, and there will be opportunities in future for residents to contribute through consultation."

The petition has attracted more than 30,000 signatures in double-quick time, but it will need 1000,000 to ensure a debate in Parliament.