Lancaster City Council has voted unanimously to back a series of measures to help slow the decline in the population of swifts.
Developers across the Lancaster and Morecambe District will be asked to include swift bricks or swift boxes, where practicable, in all relevant planning proposals for new build properties.
The council will also look at introducing swift boxes on their own buildings where possible and if funds allow - prioritising areas where swift populations are known to persist or could be restored.
Lancaster was declared a 'Swift City' - one of a few across the UK - in 2024.
The number of swifts has declined 62 per cent in the UK between 1996 and 2022.
They were amber listed in 2009 and have been red listed since December 2021.
A Lancaster City Council motion, discussed at a meeting on July 22, said: "This severe and ongoing decline is driven significantly by the loss of nesting habitat in modern buildings.
"The council’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency, and its responsibility to take meaningful local action to address species loss. · That the incorporation of swift bricks and other integral nesting features in new development is a simple, low-cost, and effective measure to support urban biodiversity.
"In June 2024 a group of residents, including Cat Smith (MP for Lancaster & Wyre) and several councillors declared Lancaster a Swift City and pledged to support the endangered species.
"It is now time to go further. This council believes that our current planning policies whilst encouraging biodiversity do not sufficiently support swifts.
"The use of swift bricks in new developments would not create significant additional cost whilst making a big difference. We can ask our planners to make all developers aware of the need to support swifts and request them specifically to include swift bricks in new developments.
"The council has already taken action to provide swift boxes on some of our buildings."
The motion was moved by Councillor Sue Tyldesley, of the Greens, cabinet member with responsibility for planning, and seconded by Councillor Louise Belcher of Labour, then agreed unanimously after a vote from councillors of all political groups.
"This initiative seeks to boost local swift populations through installing nesting boxes on council buildings and by encouraging developers to include swift bricks and integral nest features in new builds," said Councillor Tyldesley.
Councillor Sue Tyldesley
"I am pleased that Councillor Belcher seconded my proposal and delighted that the motion was supported by a unanimous vote in full council last week."
Alasdair McKee from the RSPB also attended the council meeting to speak about swifts.
Lancaster Swift City is a group of residents and volunteers working to save swifts in our community in conjunction with the RSPB Lancaster local group.
The council also resolved to publish, within six months, "clear and accessible guidance on the council’s website covering: the biodiversity emergency and species decline; the importance of swift conservation; practical requirements and guidance for developers; and advice for residents and community groups on installing and maintaining swift boxes" and "to report annually to council on progress against these measures, including the number of swift bricks secured through planning permissions and the number of boxes installed on council property".
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