Movement from the Gov on Swift bricks

[Laurinda Luffman]

Morning All

 

Some exciting news……the Planning Magazine has a headline on Swift bricks this morning 😊

 

Ministers mooting requirement for ‘swift bricks’ in new buildings’ via national development management policies, Pennycook reveals | Planning Resource

 

Mike P – don’t suppose you subscribe to this magazine and can see the full piece?

 

Hannah B-T – any foreknowledge on this proposal from Matthew Pennycock?

 

L

 

Laurinda Luffman Head of Trusts & Foundations, RSPB Swift species lead laurinda...@rspb.org.uk 07940 724242 (DD) | 01767 680 551 (Sbd)

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[Laurinda Luffman]

Yes, as Ed mentions in his latest email to the group, there’s certainly a tussle going on at the top of Government over nature. I heard Rachel Reeves tell the Lords that she cared more about getting young people into homes than holding up development for bats.

 

Anyway, I’ve had some input from my RSPB policy colleague, Carl on the article in the today’s news about Matthew Pennycock and what’s now being proposed – as follows, for everyone’s interest.

 

Yes, it was me who first suggested to Hannah BT that NMDPs could be one of the options for securing this. I placed it as more preferable to simply amending the NPPF, but less strong than legislation or inclusion in a new biodiversity chapter of the Building Regs.

 

NMDPs would only apply to England. They are completely new and haven’t even been consulted on yet, so the jury is out on how effective they will be. Much will depend on whether Govt immediately weakens them by making them non-statutory. All will depend on the devil in the detail.

 

In theory, if statutory and well drafted, they could become a requirement that needs to be met or taken account of in the determination of every planning application in the land. If not they may be near worthless. All though will hinge on how they are written, and how binding they are set-up to be.    

 

What they will do is trump local plan policies. So if a LPA wants to go beyond what a NMDP requires in its local plan then it won’t be able to. That is why how the NMDP is written and constructed is so important. We anticipate consultation on NMDPs late this year.

 

So again, it sounds as if what’s being proposed could be effective or not, depending on who wins the arguments in government.

 

L

[Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts]

Thanks for these interesting updates Laurinda. Everything crossed but I'm not confident with the way this government are pursuing development at all costs! 

Louise 

Bolton and Bury Swifts 

https://www.facebook.com/BoltonAndBurySwifts

---

From: 'Laurinda Luffman' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 2:07:44 PM
To: Swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <Swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] FW: Movement from the Gov on Swift bricks

 

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[Mike Priaulx]

Hi Laurinda/ all,

I don't have a subscription to Planning unfortunately,

I used to but it's expensive (£50 per month).

The summary by yourself and Carl is accurate and thorough, to the best of my knowledge. Yes this could be a step forward or a step back!

If a consultation is announced, then I'll share here (unless Hannah leads on it).

All the best,

Mike

Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group

[bansteadswifts]

Thanks for the update Laurinda. I will see if Raven Housing Trust have a subscription to Planning magazine.

Best Annie

Banstead Swifts

[Annie G]

Hi Laurinda, all

I asked the Head of Asset Management at Raven Housing Trust if they subscribed to Planning Magazine: they do not. He too mentioned the price!  

Best 

Annie

[Laurinda Luffman]

Thanks for asking, Annie.

 

I think we got the gist of the proposed changes. As I said, it very much depends on whether these will be statutory or non-statutory so let’s all keep a close eye on this one.

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