New Homes Give Buyers the Power to Move into Nature-Positive Communities says leading ecology consultancy Arbtech

February 2026

As New Homes Week 2026 (2-8 February) marks its 21st year, the annual Home Builders Federation (HBF) campaign is shining a spotlight on the benefits of modern housebuilding under the theme ‘Power to Move’.

This year, leading UK ecology consultancy Arbtech, a member of HBF, is highlighting how new homes give buyers the power to move into places where nature is designed and built in from the start, not bolted on later.

Vistry Beaulieu Development

According to Arbtech, forward-thinking housebuilders are proving that UK housing demand can be met while protecting and enhancing biodiversity, by embedding ecology-led design into new developments from day one.

UK housebuilders leading from the front include;

Barratt Redrow – the country’s largest housebuilder has been ahead of the curve on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), embedding nature-positive design well before it became mandatory.

Through its specialist biodiversity team and long-standing partnership with RSPB, the business has helped shape industry best practice, including practical BNG guidance, while committing from 2023 to deliver at least 10% BNG across all new developments.

Wildlife considerations are integrated from the earliest design stages through Species Enhancement and Homes for Nature plans, nature-friendly landscaping, and biodiverse show home gardens, as well as public open spaces that inspire residents to support wildlife.

Vistry - The Beaulieu development in Chelmsford, Essex, a 50/50 joint venture scheme between Countryside Properties (part of Vistry) and L&Q that will eventually deliver 3,600 homes, demonstrates how combining low‑carbon design and extensive green infrastructure can shape a thriving, sustainable community.

Alongside energy‑efficient homes, Beaulieu includes Essex’s first fully net‑zero primary school and a BREEAM Excellent health centre, both powered by solar energy, air‑source heat pumps and high‑performance timber construction.

Across 176 acres of connected parkland, meadows, gardens and woodlands, more than 1,600 new trees, 30 acres of woodland and preserved ancient hedgerows create a rich mosaic of habitats. This landscape supports flourishing populations of species including barn owls, skylarks, badgers and bats, while the transformation of Great Park into biodiverse estate parkland has encouraged deer, hares and kestrel to return.

Beaulieu’s award‑winning green spaces, recognised with three consecutive Green Flag Awards, provide accessible, resilient natural environments that promote long‑term ecological recovery at the heart of the community.

Gleeson Homes partnered with Buglife to strengthen habitat value for invertebrates across its developments through its biodiversity strategy – a critical focus as UK invertebrate abundance has fallen sharply in recent decades.

Improving foraging and shelter opportunities across all Gleeson developments will help support various species that underpin essential ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and soil health, while also supporting the birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, and other mammals that depend on invertebrates as a food source.

Taylor Wimpey also independently worked with Buglife as part of their biodiversity strategy. Working in partnership with Hedgehog Street, Taylor Wimpey has also committed to integrating hedgehog highways on its new developments.

Nicole Gullan, Associate Director at Arbtech

Nicole Gullan, Associate Director at Arbtech, said:

“When ecology is considered at the earliest stages of design, new developments can actively enhance biodiversity, rather than simply mitigate harm. We’re seeing more housebuilders take a proactive approach, using smart site planning to protect existing habitats, while creating new opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive side by side.”

Modern developments increasingly integrate biodiversity as a core design principle, something older housing stock can lack. Ecology-led design introduces features such as native planting, wildlife corridors, bird and bat boxes, green spaces and sustainable drainage, all of which help to create healthier, more resilient communities.

Early ecological input also supports smoother planning outcomes. By identifying ecological opportunities and constraints up front, developers can avoid delays, protect valuable habitats and deliver schemes that align with local and national biodiversity objectives.

Nicole added:

“Retrofitting biodiversity into older housing can be challenging and costly. New homes, by contrast, offer a unique opportunity to get it right from the outset; designing places where nature is part of everyday life, not an afterthought.”

The New Homes Week campaign also highlights the energy-efficiency benefits of new build homes and Arbtech says ecological sustainably goes hand in hand with this narrative. Well-designed new homes typically deliver lower energy bills, reduced carbon emissions and a smaller environmental footprint, while also supporting local ecosystems.

“Lower energy costs and reduced carbon emissions often sit alongside wider ecological benefits”, said Nicole. “Thoughtful design choices can reduce pressure on natural resources, support biodiversity and create developments that are better for both residents and the environment.”

For buyers, the benefits extend well beyond the property itself. Choosing a new home increasingly means moving into neighbourhoods designed with wellbeing in mind, offering access to green space, improved air quality and closer connection to nature.

“Buyers aren’t just moving house, concluded Nicole “they’re moving into healthier, green environments where ecology-led design helps communities thrive alongside nature. That’s the real power of modern new homes.”

Arbtech’s BREEAM services provide expert ecological assessments to secure planning permission for sustainable developments in the UK and internationally.

As New Homes Week 2026 continues, Arbtech is encouraging the industry to keep ecology at the heart of development, demonstrating that new homes can play a vital role in both housing delivery and nature recovery.