Kingsbrook Why and How? Partnership between AVDC, BDW and RSPB - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Kingsbrook

Why and How? • Partnership between AVDC, BDW and RSPB • Land had been put forward for development in the past but environmental sensitivities had prevented permission • AVDC suggested Barratt team up with RSPB • Exemplar “Wildlife - friendly Development” • Pollinators highlighted as a key target group by RSPB

What makes it wildlife-friendly?

How do people feel about it? • Overall very positive – offered to play swift calls, some people were attracted to Kingsbrook specifically because of nature- friendly aspect • Rate of sale is high • Some confusion over road verges, e.g. they “look messy”, but people understood once signs were installed • Members of the public have contacted both RSPB and Barratt – both positive and negative messages

Easy wins vs challenges • Easy wins: getting recognition • Challenges: Multiple players with different ideas of success; communication in multiple directions; detailed planning applications including everything we’d discussed; delivery of what’s in the planning permission • Had to overcome these in various ways – • Ecologists preparing specific plans for swift bricks and hedgehog highways; • Barratt putting things on contractor’s drawings instead of separate ecological constraints maps

Lessons learnt • Start as early in the design process as possible • Think about how the development fits into the landscape • Work together to understand each other’s goals and constraints – sometimes there are good reasons why something can’t be done. • Make sure things are delivered as planned – contractors are very used to doing things a certain way • Explain to customers what you are doing and why – e.g. once they understand that the road verges are left to grow long to benefit wildlife they understand and support it.

RSPB and Biodiversity Guidance

Awards and recognition • Awards – Animal Hero; Communicate; CIRIA’s BIG Challenge • Swift brick • Barratt reputation • National partnership • Country File • Government interest – inclusion in 25-year plan etc