Thank you for contacting me about swift nesting boxes.
I share your concerns about the decline of the swift population. The RSPB estimates that there was a 53 per cent decline between 1995 and 2016. Swifts nest in gaps high up on our homes and other buildings and I understand that one of the causes of the decline of swifts is the refurbishment or demolition of buildings, where swifts can lose important nesting areas.
While I am not aware of any specific plans in Parliament to require homes to be built with certain features to provide habitats, I do believe that protecting and enhancing biodiversity should be central to our planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework, which provides guidance to local planning authorities in England, is clear that planning permission should be refused on new development that could significantly harm biodiversity unless it can be avoided, mitigated or (as a last resort) compensated for.
More broadly, I would like to assure you that the Government is committed to the recovery of species. The Environment Act 2021 includes the requirement for a new legally binding target to halt the decline in species by 2030.
Finally, I know that the RSPB is encouraging people to help swifts by providing alternative nesting sites, either by making a swift nest box, or purchasing one and putting it up. This is something I would encourage my constituents to do. More information can be found here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swi…