Member Article

Stylish new homes for humans and wildlife at Brunel Quarter

Barratt Homes is creating a special community with a difference in Chepstow at its new Brunel Quarter.

The five star housebuilder has commissioned an ecological plan to identify and protect wildlife at the site of the development – which features a range of two, three and four bedroom homes.

The site, located within the regeneration area of the old shipyard site, includes around 2.8 hectares of green space, and a further 0.3 hectares which will form Brunel Square – a public area.

Richard Lawson, sales director for Barratt Homes, said: “This report is allowing us to introduce important measures to protect wildlife here in Chepstow. Our future buyers are very much at the forefront of our minds when we create new developments – but so is the incumbent wildlife.

“This is an excellent ecological plan, and I’m delighted we also have an ecologist working with us at the site providing important guidance throughout the planning and construction process.”

Rachel Taylor, principal ecologist at BSG Ecology, added: “We have been involved with this site since May 2018, carrying out a number of ecological surveys. Our findings show the area supports a number of protected species and habitats – including slow worms, bats and saltmarsh.

“BSG Ecology has prepared a site-wide ecological and landscape plan – also referred to as the Ecological Design Strategy – as part of the development’s planning process.

“We şet out mitigation and enhancement measures associated with the protected and notable species and habitats present here. Barratt Homes has designed Brunel Quarter with these measures in mind – minimising the effect of this new community on the wildlife and nature already living here.”

Measures included to protect species and habitats, and to enhance the Brunel Quarter site for wildlife include:

• Provision of a dedicated bat house with links to the wider area via through green infrastructure and dark corridors
• An animal proof barrier between the worked areas of the site and the protected wildlife areas
• Creation of open mosaic habitat to replicate some of the post-industrial habitats that were previously present
• Inclusion of swift boxes on over 100 units
• Inclusion of gaps in fencing to allow movement of hedgehogs between gardens, where it is appropriate to do so.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .