Kingsbrook: giving nature a home

: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Kingsbrook is creating a lasting legacy, a place that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in housebuilding and serving as a blueprint for developments across the country.

For too long, planning and nature were in opposition. Barratt Redrow has put thousands of hours of research, planning and design into creating spaces where people and wildlife can thrive. Barratt Redrow collaborated with the RSPB from inception, which shaped the masterplan and placed care for the environment at its heart. Some 60% of the overall space area is dedicated to wildlife-friendly spaces including a 250-acre nature reserve, community allotments and orchards, sustainable drainage systems to support biodiversity, ponds, parks, meadows, tree-lined avenues and wildlife corridors. The partnership has led to innovations such as wildlife-friendly show home gardens and the creation of Swift bricks - now designed into every development - demonstrating a proactive stance in biodiversity conservation. Kingsbrook exemplifies a commitment to biodiversity that extends beyond industry norms and best practice by integrating more than was required at planning and drawing on the experience and knowledge of the RSPB and ecological experts, a year before BNG was a legal requirement. These partnerships have led to significant ecological enhancements. More broadly, Kingsbrook is having a lasting impact in the community, providing local employment and closing the gap on social mobility, supporting education, improving infrastructure and creating a new sustainable community.