Housebuilder Crest Nicholson is launching a number of biodiversity initiatives, such as hedgehog highways and bird boxes, across a number of its developments in Milton Keynes, including Whitehouse Park and Manor View. To celebrate, Crest Nicholson recently welcomed the Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy to visit Manor View for a tour of the planned initiatives.

The tour included showcasing the installation of ecological enhancements on the site, along with eco-friendly timber frames currently being used in construction, and the kitchen units made from recycled materials.

The planned initiatives at Whitehouse Park and Manor View include specially designed hedgehog highways, which enable wildlife to roam freely and safely away from traffic, and bird boxes located in the bricks of the homes to provide a haven for house sparrows, blue tits, great tits, and other birds to nest, and bat boxes. Sparrow terraces, wide boxes split into a few chambers, provide nesting space for multiple pairs, enabling them to socialise within a colony. These features are supported by a number of other initiatives at the developments to increase biodiversity, including hedgerow and tree planting and the provision of wildlife loving plants such as lavender.

The initiatives are some of many being rolled out across Crest Nicholson developments as part of the housebuilder’s sustainability strategy and commitment to protect the environment, delivering biodiversity net gains and transitioning towards net zero by 2045.

Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change, comments: “With the swift population having declined by over 50% over the past 20 years, it is essential to protect sites for the migratory birds who return to UK skies annually from Africa every May to nest. We are delighted that Crest Nicholson are committed to including bird boxes, swift bricks, and other biodiversity enhancements, in their development plans for the Milton Keynes and greater Chiltern region. As the RSPB’s Parliamentary Species Champion for the Swift, I was particularly pleased to see what they’re doing to provide habitats for this iconic bird. Little steps like this can make a huge difference in our battle to reverse biodiversity loss.”

Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, adds: “At Crest Nicholson, we strive to look after the wildlife in and around our developments and the biodiversity initiatives, such as bird boxes and hedgehog highways, will help us to make a positive impact on the Milton Keynes environment.

“We were pleased to welcome Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change to our Manor View development in Wavendon for a tour of the site and to discuss the biodiversity enhancements we have planned. For anyone interested in learning more about these initiatives, we’d recommend coming along to our newly launched Marlborough show home at Whitehouse Park where you’ll be able to see them up close.”

Having a balance between town and countryside living has become an increasingly important priority for homebuyers in the past few years. Whitehouse Park is set to be a semi-rural haven with plenty of greenspace, enabling residents to enjoy the best of country living without having to compromise on amenities or travel connections.

Comprising three to five bedroom homes, Manor View is ideally suited to a range of buyers, including first time buyers, growing families looking to upsize and downsizers. Prices for three bedroom homes start from £430,000, whilst prices for four and five bedroom homes start from £515,000 and £645,000 respectively. SmoothMove and Part Exchange are available on select properties to help take the hassle out of the home moving process.

At Whitehouse Park, prices for three, four and five bedroom homes start from £415,000, £440,000 and £645,000 respectively, with Part Exchange, Deposit Unlock and SmoothMove available on selected plots.

For more information on either development, visit their sales suites which are open 10am until 5pm, Friday to Wednesday. Alternatively, call 01908 036 035 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/manor-view for Manor View, or call 01908 891 720 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/whitehouse-park for Whitehouse Park.