Buildings and the Built Environment

Associated Species Action Plans Bats Black redstart Kestrel Associated Habitat action plans Canals Gardens, allotments, parks and public open space Garden ponds Urban 'wasteland' including all habitats in the vicinity of the built environment

This action plan covers the conservation of the wildlife that inhabits the hard elements of the urban landscape. The following elements come within the scope of this Action Plan: Buildings Structures such as: walls / bridges / tunnels / pylons / underground sites. Hard surfacing such as: unit paving/ bound materials / hardcore / tarmac / concrete / railway ballast. Buildings comprise the main and most varied component of this habitat type. Historic buildings, because of their age, are often important for lichens and can be used to demonstrate the gradual improvement in air quality over the last few decades. Modern buildings too can be important. Most pipistrelle roosts are found in buildings built in the last 30 years and even multi-storey tower blocks are used by this species. Birds such as peregrine, kestrel and the ubiquitous feral pigeon find buildings a substitute for their original cliff nesting habitat. Canal, road and rail infrastructure also form an important part of this habitat. Utilities such as sewage works, structures relating to the supply of electricity and gas and communication facilities may also be significant. The distinction between this habitat type and urban wasteland may not always be clear. Buildings and the built environment support a range of animals and plants. Characteristics of the built environment are described below: the wildlife of the built environment usually becomes established without any intentional human intervention but is often transitory; in the built environment non-native species are much more prevalent. while the traditional habitat types are often relicts of earlier economic circumstances and have to be artificially managed to retain their ecological value, buildings and the built environment often require little conservation management. Animals which use buildings and structures can be divided into two distinct groups: animals which spend all or most of their lives in buildings and structures, for example, cockroaches of which many of the most common species originate in Africa and are not able to survive outside in Britain. animals which require buildings and structures for only part of their life-cycles, for example, birds such as swifts or house sparrows which use building for nesting but feed elsewhere. For this group the proximity of buildings and structures to other habitat types is important. Both plants and animals can also be divided into broad groups: species which are common and thrive in the built environment and are not under any particular threat. For example, brown rats, feral pigeons, grey squirrel. species which are reliant on elements within the built environment but which are declining or uncommon. For example bats and black redstart. The first group are commonly perceived as pests if they are animals or weeds if they are plants and the second group needs the most attention from conservation effort. However, there is a need to ensure that the populations of apparently common species in the first category do not decline.

Protecting and managing the wildlife of buildings and the built environment poses different problems to those relating to the more recognised habitat types such as woodland, wetland or heathland. The main factors affecting the habitat are set out below:

• Lack of information. Comparatively little is known about the built environment as a habitat type compared with the more recognised types. The ecological requirements of many 'urban' species are poorly understood and options for management are far from clear, even to conservationists. Even where legal powers exist to protect species using the built environment such species cannot be protected if their location is unknown. Lack of information about the habitat and the species which use it is the most important factor affecting the habitat. Until information is available it is difficult to address the conservation needs of this habitat.
• Disturbance, destruction and fragmentation of the habitat. The urban landscape is dynamic with demolition, redevelopment and disturbance constant characteristics. While many of the characteristic plants and animals of the built environment are tolerant of disturbance, others are not and conservation effort must be targeted at the vulnerable species. Fragmentation of land ownership in tight urban areas makes an effective and co-ordinated approach to conservation of key species more difficult. Many species, particularly mammals and birds, have habitat needs which may extend over numerous land ownerships.
• Lack of framework for assessing the value and importance of habitat. Built habitat is difficult to protect through the existing system of site designations (e.g. Site of Special Scientific Interest/ Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) because the criteria for site selection currently used are unlikely to rate buildings and the built environment as being of importance.
• It is sometimes impractical to protect the habitat. Retention of built habitats would sometimes preclude the proper maintenance of buildings and structures or the effective economic use of land.
• Lack of awareness of the importance of this habitat. Built habitats are often visually unprepossessing and do not meet public expectations of valuable wildlife sites. This view is reflected in many groups in society and therefore buildings and the built environment receive a low priority for nature conservation. In contrast almost all the traditional habitat types are considered visually attractive.

3.1 Legal status

Some species are protected by inclusion in the various schedules of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Black redstart, all bat species). However, protection does not extend to the foraging habitats required by these species.

No building or structure is currently protected by any statutory or non-statutory wildlife site designation. It is probable that few, if any, buildings or structures would meet current criteria for designation.

The demolition of buildings and other structures does not always need planning permission so the retention of buildings and other examples of the built environment is not regulated by the planning system. Alteration of buildings often requires planning permission.

New buildings and structures usually require planning permission and there is scope for the Local Planning Authorities to secure the inclusion of features useful to wildlife through the planning process.

Listed buildings (which also include some canal bridges and other structures) receive some protection from the Planning (listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Such buildings require Listed Building Consent before they can be destroyed or altered. Buildings in Conservation Areas also require permission for complete demolition. However, relatively few buildings and structures are protected by this legislation.

Ancient monuments receive some protection from the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Again there are relatively few of these in Birmingham and the Black Country and they do not necessarily protect features with nature conservation value.

Complying with legal requirements relating to public safety or dangerous structures may threaten important sites.

3.2 Management, research and guidance

• Other Biodiversity Action Plans;
• Planning Policy Guidance Notes (particularly No 9: Nature Conservation).
• The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, Section 37.
• Best management practices re:
  • Sustainable treatment of surface water runoff;
  • Deculverting of water courses;
  • Use of permeable surfaces e.g. for car parking;
  • Treatment of grey water.

ACTION	Potential Deliverers		YEARS							Meeting Objective No.
	Lead	Partner	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2011
5.1 Policy and legislation
Develop policy measures appropriate for the protection of buildings and the built environment through the planning system.	LAs	EN, WT	As UDPs and other policy documents are prepared							3,5,6
Seek the inclusion of effective measures for the sustainable treatment of ground water, the use of permeable surfaces and the deculverting of water courses in the preparation of UDPs, LEAPs and other policy documents	LAs, EA	EN, WT	As UDPs, LEAPs and other policy documents are prepared							9
Seek the requirement for developers and others to incorporate bird and bat roosting/ nesting sites into new/ converted buildings in the preparation of Unitary Development Plans and other policy documents	LAs	EN, WT	As UDPs and other policy documents are prepared							6,9
Develop criteria for evaluating wildlife communities living in buildings and structures within (or outside) the SINC/ SLINC system. If appropriate, ensure that these habitats are represented in the SINC/SLINC series	LAs	EN, WT	As UDPs and other policy documents are prepared							2,4,5
5.2 Site and species safeguard and management
Develop partnerships with key organisations such as Railtrack or British Waterways to explore ways in which good examples of the habitat can be retained for long-term study	WT	LAs, EN								8
Identify sites used by species protected in the W&CA or for which a national Biodiversity Action Plan has been prepared and encourage appropriate managment.	LAs	EN, WT, ER, LCG								5,8
Encourage conservation measures to improve existing buildings and structures for targeted species (e.g. conversion of redundant tunnels as bat hibernacular)	LAs	EN, WT, LCG								6
Promote the inclusion of nesting sites and other measures within new development	LAs	EN, WT, LCG								6
5.3 Advisory
Set up a group of experts / interested people to provide advice on the conservation built habitats.	LAs	EN, WT, LCG, Educ								1,3
Inform local authorities of the presence of protected species	WT	LAs, EN, ER								5
5.4 Future research and monitoring
Identify the range of species found in buildings and the built environment by using existing wildlife data	LAs	EN, WT, ER, LCG								1
Target survey work where there are gaps in our knowledge	LAs	EN, WT, ER, LCG, Educ								1,2
Target research to increase our understanding of the development of plant and animal communities living within buildings and structures. Make use of existing research	Educ	LA, EN, WT, ER								1,2,3
Monitor trends in the species composition of animals and plants using the built environment	WT	ER, Educ								2,4,5
5.5 Communications and publicity
Promote urban plant and animal communities as interesting and valuable wildlife and worthy of study and conservation	WT	LAs, EN, ER, LCG								7
Provide guidelines for developer/ LPAs/ landowners/ occupiers of urban sites on the importance of urban habitats and their retention and enhancement	LAs	EN, WT								3
5.6 Links to other action plans
Canals, gardens, allotments, parks and open space, garden ponds, urban 'wasteland'

This Biodiversity Action Plan will be implemented over 10 years with a first review after 5 years. A group will be set up to co-ordinate implementation and to report to the Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group. This group will meet at a minimum on a yearly basis.

Review will be carried out in conjunction with related Habitat and Species Action Plans as appropriate.

Review will consist of measuring achievement of targets. The group will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop and implement appropriate monitoring methods, which will inform the review process.

The Action Plan will be revised and updated in the light of review results and any relevant changes in circumstances and / or additional information which becomes available during the review period.

In line with national guidance, the Steering Group will report to the UK Biodiversity Steering Group.

Biodiversity Action Plan for Birmingham and the Black Country © 2000

Printing of this publication for educational purposes is permitted, provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial gain, and the title of the publication and its date appear. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires specific permission from the Steering Group.