Government U-Turn on Swift Brick Support Sparks Outcry
Housing Secretary Steve Reed criticised for reversing position on bird-friendly bricks once hailed as vital for urban swifts
A change of tune from the top
The UK government has been accused of backtracking on its commitment to protect one of Britain’s most threatened urban birds, after Housing Secretary Steve Reed withdrew support for a measure that would have required all new homes to include a “swift brick”.
Reed previously endorsed the idea while serving as Environment Secretary, telling campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor that her proposal to make swift bricks mandatory in new housing developments was “pushing at an open door.” But since taking charge of the housing brief, Reed’s department has confirmed it will not back a new amendment tabled in the House of Lords seeking to make the measure law.
From open door to closed window
The proposed amendment, led by Conservative peer Zac Goldsmith, would have compelled developers to include a hollow brick in every new-build home – a simple, £35 addition providing essential nesting cavities for Swifts Apus apus and other cavity-nesting birds such as House Sparrows, Starlings and House Martins.
Bourne-Taylor, who has long campaigned for swifts, said: “He looked me in the eye and said yes to mandating swift bricks. Now is the perfect opportunity to preserve his own integrity as well as an iconic species for whom swift bricks are a lifeline.”
A species in freefall
Once a familiar sound above summer rooftops, the Swift has suffered a catastrophic decline of more than 66% since 1995. As older buildings are replaced or renovated, their traditional nesting holes in eaves and roofs have vanished, leaving the birds struggling to find breeding sites. Conservationists have repeatedly urged the government to act, arguing that integrating purpose-built nest spaces into new homes is a simple, low-cost way to help reverse their decline.
Policy versus practice
In its response, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said that swift bricks will be promoted through updates to national planning guidance, encouraging developers to install them “in all suitable new homes.” But critics say voluntary guidance has proven ineffective. A University of Sheffield study found that three-quarters of bird and bat boxes required under planning conditions never actually appeared once housing projects were completed.
“How can the government know they’re increasing swift brick installation?” asked Bourne-Taylor. “What’s their monitoring system? Given the ‘build baby build’ mantra, why not build for birds too?”
Cross-party frustration
The amendment has cross-party backing in the Lords, including from former Environment Secretaries Michael Gove and Thérèse Coffey. Both criticised Labour’s reversal on a measure they once supported in opposition.
Coffey remarked: “In opposition, Labour were swift to criticise. Now, in government, they need to swallow their pride and vote with us to save our swifts.” Lord Goldsmith added: “It makes no sense at all for them to now oppose it. The only thing that’s changed is the number of swifts, sadly.”
The bigger picture
For many campaigners, the controversy is emblematic of a broader disconnect between the government’s rhetoric on environmental protection and its actions on the ground. Swifts are not just a symbol of summer skies – they are also an indicator of urban biodiversity and the health of the environments in which people live.
As the Lords prepare to debate the amendment, pressure is mounting on Reed and the government to turn words back into deeds. As Bourne-Taylor puts it: “Every new home without a swift brick is a lost opportunity – not just for the birds, but for reconnecting people with nature on their doorstep.”
October 2025
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