Swift brick
Swifts are plain, sooty brown, medium-sized aerial birds that breed in the UK but winter in Africa.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) report that the number of swifts has almost halved in 20 years down from almost 150,000 breeding pairs arriving in the UK to less than 90,000. It is thought that this decline is in part due to a reduction in potential nesting sites as buildings are renovated or demolished.
Nesting accommodation for swifts built in to buildings is preferable to accommodation retrofitted onto the outside. Swift bricks provide a mechanism for building nesting accommodation for swifts into brickwork. They are available from a range of suppliers, including from Action for Swifts, and can be embedded into walls below the eaves. Ideally swifts brick should fit within a multiple of standard UK brick sizes to make them easier to install.
Swift bricks typically encroach into the wall cavity, or even span the cavity. If they are placed under the eaves, or under a fascia boards, this is generally not be a problem, however lower locations may need to incorporate a cavity tray to prevent water penetration. Swift bricks should not overheat on south-facing walls, but if they have a thin front wall, they should not be placed in the sun, but should be sheltered under the eaves.
In 2016, Manthorpe Building Products, RSPB and Barratt Homes collaborated on the creation of a new swift brick, designed to be easily incorporated into new homes. 900 will be fitted at the Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury.
Michael Finn, group design and technical director at Barratt Developments said, “The bricks are an industry first – they are fully drained, ventilated and are unobtrusive, by matching the colour of the bricks. They also help nurture chicks by giving them room to stand when they hatch. Crucially too, they are much, much cheaper than any other swift brick on the market, which will help their uptake. We actively want other developers to use the brick so we can all help build swift populations. It’s a great example of how we are working together with the RSPB and the wider industry to support nature.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bats.
- Bat roost box.
- Bee brick.
- Biodiversity offsetting.
- Biodiversity.
- Brick.
- Ecological Impact Assessment EcIA.
- Ecological network.
- Ecological survey.
- Ecologist.
- Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Environmental plan.
- Environmental policy.
- Great crested newt.
- National nature reserves.
- Natural England.
- Preliminary ecological appraisal.
- Protected species.
- Swift box.
- Types of brick.
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.
Comments
Will bricks be removable so that old material can be cleared out to prevent infection
https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/ask-an-expert/previous/reuse.aspx