BARRATT Homes – which has the Vision development at Braithwaite – has pledged to build wildlife-friendly measures into its schemes.

The company has signed a pioneering deal with the RSPB to boost natural habitats, using updated landscaping and new guidance.

Ian Ruthven, managing director of Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, said: "Our partnership will demonstrate how we can protect and enhance the biodiversity of the local area, improving health and wellbeing for our customers and the communities we create."

Mike Clarke, of the RSPB, welcomed the initiative.

He added: "With hundreds of thousands of homes needed across the country in the next few years, now is the time for conservationists and homebuilders to pull together to ensure the wildlife is boosted rather than ousted in the process.

"We are confident that many positive steps can be taken to build wildlife into new housing developments, giving nature and people a home and increasing quality of life – and all relatively simply and cheaply."