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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Patrick Barkham

Government U-turns on support for bird-friendly swift bricks in new homes

Reed, Goldsmith and Bourne-Taylor in a meeting room with Reed holding one of the swift bricks
Steve Reed, centre, the then environment secretary, last year told Hannah Bourne-Taylor, right, and Zac Goldsmith that he endorsed swift bricks. Photograph: Hannah Bourne-Taylor

The government is refusing to support a new amendment to install a swift brick in every new home – a U-turn by Steve Reed since he became housing secretary.

When he was environment secretary, Reed told a campaigner, Hannah Bourne-Taylor, she was “pushing at an open door” and he and others wanted to add to the party’s manifesto her proposal that developers must include a £35 hollow brick in every new home.

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