Castle Acre Project – Latest Progress February 2022

February 13, 2022 | Land management | 2 minute read

We are still making good progress on site. Seven houses have their roofs covered and have external windows and doors fitted. House number 8 in our sequence will be roofed within the next month. We are working hard to have the first seven houses at the top of the site largely complete by the end of March 2022.

There is a lot of work underway inside these houses. Operatives on site, working behind closed doors, include plasterers, ceramic tilers, decorators, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. We have heating on in four houses, allowing us to start fitting hard floor finishes followed by kitchens and bathrooms. We are also carrying out hard landscaping works on the first six houses including construction of garden walls, which will enable paths, patios and driveways to follow.

It has been brought to our attention that the Swift is on the amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern because its population has declined by more than 25% in 25 years. Over time, building regulations, particularly those governing efficiency, have meant that there are fewer spaces, if any, for Swifts to nest in buildings. Even older buildings that may traditionally have supported nesting Swifts may not be suitable any longer due to renovations or roof insulation adhering to modern building regulations, and the retro-fitting of insulation. The lack of suitable nest sites may be contributing to the decline in Swift numbers.

The Swift has therefore been highlighted as a species that could benefit through the provision of nesting opportunities in new buildings. We are installing 16 Swift nest bricks on our site and the bottom left image shows one high up in a gable wall, away from opening windows, and between 5-6m above ground level.

Swifts are gregarious birds that like to nest, feed and migrate in groups. They mate for life and like to return to the same nesting site year after year. We hope that we will create a swift colony with the new nests at Bricknel Close.

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