Construction Industry
In addition to the information contained in the Existing Buildings, New Build and Bat Roosts sections of this website, this section has some extra information that should be of interest to the industry.
Message for the construction industry
Many organisations and companies in the construction industry now work with the Bat Conservation Trust. Whether or not you currently work with BCT please do contact us if you have examples of good practice when working with bats that you wish to share. We would be delighted to consider these for inclusion in a news section of our website or for our award winning Bat News magazine.
Perhaps you would like to offer to speak or run a workshop at our National Bat Conference. Attendance is in the region of 350 delegates and in the past two years the lighting industry, breathable membrane manufacturers, architects, roofing contractors and bridge engineers have all been represented.
There has never been a more important time for the construction industry and conservation bodies to work together to fulfil the true meaning of sustainable building.
What we can achieve together now can make a difference for generations to come. Let’s make sure that we support a world where bats (and other wildlife) and people live in harmony.
News
Biodiversity positive: eco-towns biodiversity worksheet published. In December 2009 the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) published the 'Biodiversity positive: eco-towns biodiversity worksheet' which gives guidance in support of the Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on Eco-towns. It identifies the essential steps required to ensure that their design, development and long term management result in a sustained positive outcome for biodiversity. This guidance was produced by the TCPA in collaboration with Natural England and a steering group of which the Bat Conservation Trust was a member. The report includes the importance of sensitive lighting, the need for bat and bird roost provision within buildings and monitoring bats as indicators of biodiversity change.
Biodiversity report launch. Carol Williams, out Bats and the Built Environment Project Officer, has chaired the UK Green Building Council Biodiversity Task Group which was formed in June 2008. This intense period of working has culminated in the publication of a report entitled 'Biodiversity and the Built Environment' which contains 10 key recommendations. The report was launched at an event held in London's Barbican on 31st March 2009. The report and its associated documents can be found on the UK Green Building website where there is also filmed footage of the speeches from Carol Williams; Huw Irranca-Davies, Minster for Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs; Claudine Blamey, Head of Sustainability, Segro and chaired by Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council. This has been seen as successful collaboration between industry, government bodies to lead to positive changes to the consideration of biodiversity in the built environment.
Royal Town Planning Institute Biodiversity Interest Group. As part of the work of the UKGBC Biodiversity Task Group, a close working relationship has been formed with the Environmental Planning and Protection Network (EPPN) of the RTPI. As a result a 'Planning and Biodiversity' Interest Group has been formed to further explore making changes that will improve the communication of needs between developers and Local Planning Authorities when considering biodiversity. It is hoped that these changes should also facilitate authorities in reporting change to biodiversity as a result of their activities (i.e. planning consents). A pilot of the proposed process formulated by the interest group is to take place in north east England in the first half of 2010.
Dates for your diary
2nd March 2010 - The launch of the new book entitled 'Biodiversity for low and zero carbon homes' written by BCT in collaboration with colleagues in other conservation organsations and with the construction industry and published by RIBA Publishing. This will take place at the Ecobuild exhibition at Earl's Court. More details to follow.
Ways to work with BCT
Corporate Membership - Current members from the industry include the National Insulation Association, UK Green Building Council and Tamworth Property Services.
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
Links to useful websites
Industry
National Insulation Association
Construction Industry Research and Information Association
Institution of Lighting Engineers
Building Research Establishment
National Federation of Roofing Contractors
Chartered Institute of Building
Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Nature Conservation
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (roofs pages)
Suppliers of bat bricks
In the future, these pages will hold information on practical measures that will allow bats to find a place to roost within new developments. For the time being, there are currently products available that can be incorporated into new build to aid bat roosting potential or access to a potential roost spaces and links to these are below. We would emphasise that we are in no way recommending these products and, as far as BCT is aware, they have yet to be reported as being successful.
RoofBLOCK free bird and bat box