Homes for Nature is a voluntary industry initiative developed by the Future Homes Hub's On-Site Nature Measures Working Group, helping homebuilders create more space for wildlife in new developments, beyond existing Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.

Since September 2024, participating homebuilders have committed to installing the equivalent of one universal integral nest brick per new home, creating continuous hedgehog highways across developments and incorporating planting that supports wildlife.

With 28 homebuilders, collectively building more than 100,000 homes a year, signed up to the commitment, Homes for Nature is helping to make practical measures for wildlife a standard part of new housing developments.

Homes for Nature: Year 1 Annual Report 2025/26

The first Homes for Nature Annual Report has now been published, revealing the progress homebuilders are making in delivering practical measures for wildlife across new developments.

Year 1 reporting highlights:

• 14,553 universal integral nest bricks installed.
• 748 continuous hedgehog highway routes delivered.
• 5,233 bat features installed.
• 2,424 measures for insects delivered.

Crucially, 3,542 nest bricks and 216 hedgehog highway routes were installed specifically because of Homes for Nature, beyond existing local planning requirements – demonstrating the additional impact of the industry's voluntary commitment.

These figures represent an important early milestone. With a typical two-to-three-year period between planning submission and construction, many developments covered by the commitment are still progressing towards completion. As more homes are built, the number of wildlife features delivered through Homes for Nature is expected to grow.

The report also includes practical case studies from Lioncourt Homes and Barratt Redrow, showcasing how homebuilders are incorporating wildlife measures into developments, sharing lessons learned and demonstrating approaches that can be adopted more widely.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Beyond nesting bricks and hedgehog highways, Homes for Nature encourages additional measures including bat roosts, insect bricks, hibernacula, pollinator-friendly landscaping and nature-led sustainable drainage systems. Together, these features provide nesting and shelter opportunities, improve habitat connectivity and help create places where people and wildlife can thrive.

Homes for Nature was developed in collaboration with conservation organisations including the RSPB, Action for Swifts and Hedgehog Street. Technical guidance supports homebuilders in incorporating wildlife measures into their developments, while annual reporting tracks delivery and helps identify practical lessons and opportunities for improvement.

The Homes for Nature Guidance Document and Year 1 Reporting Guide are available to signatories through the members' portal.