Five thousand new homes alongside a paradise for newts appears to fly in face of government’s ‘false wedge’ the first thing you notice is the sound of birdsong and the scent of blossom a postwar housing estate that was demolished in 2009 to regenerate the area Now the grey, harsh concrete has been replaced by redbrick blocks that sit in a “green corridor” linking Sutcliffe Park in the south with the nature reserves at Kidbrooke Green and London Wildlife Trust’s Birdbrook in the north Many of the flats overlook new ponds and the expanded wetland of the River Quaggy putting local businesses and property at risk While some planning applications elsewhere have been halted because the developers did not survey for bats or consider rare newts this development has incorporated nature throughout and wetlands for newts directly next to the blocks of flats The quality blue and green space woven between the flats includes a children’s playground and benches overlooking the wetlands among which residents can spot reed buntings and kingfishers it was full of people enjoying a spring day Concern for newts and bats holds back the building of new houses, according to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Yet here, 5,000 new homes are being delivered alongside a paradise for newts. Wildlife trusts have been working closely with housing developers to get good quality homes built alongside habitat for nature Read moreDavid Mooney, the chief executive of the London Wildlife Trust said of Kidbrooke Village: “We were initially brought in to find a nature-based solution to the flooding of the River Quaggy We linked it to a floodplain and created sustainable urban drainage systems and then worked with Berkeley Homes to get these flats built around the new wetlands.” strips some requirements for developers to bear nature in mind and will make it easier for homes to be built without this green infrastructure “The Treasury is driving this false wedge between homes and nature,” Mooney said “but we have been working with housing developers for years and years in harmony Some developers aren’t as conscientious as others but the good companies want nature around the new-builds It improves the mental health of people who live there It also saves money and maintenance to have wild spaces as they do not have to be mowed or tidied A nature space at Kidbrooke Village in the ponds of different depths and sizes “Tell me someone that doesn’t want to have wildlife in their window who doesn’t want to see a dragonfly buzzing past their window when they’re doing the washing up People have a really strong affinity with the natural world and people live here and now take care of it We’re just about to rebuild a nature pavilion.” He said the presence of bats had been incorporated into the design of the estate and there are also ‘swift bricks’ in which birds can nest in the architecture The rubble and old waste from the site has been used to create nature mounds rather than going to landfill on which wildflower seeds will be scattered People will be able to perch on the little hills Mooney said he felt wildlife trusts were mischaracterised by the government: “We aren’t saying let’s restore all of England back to nature But there are clear maps that we can produce Nature and housing can be woven together.” He said he was worried the new rules would mean developments such as Kidbrooke would remain exceptions and more badly considered developments with no nature involved would be built instead “There’ll be some developers who shall remain nameless who are rubbing their hands with glee at what Rachel Reeves is saying because they were never involved in the first place,” he said They’re the ones that want to maximise their profit to the quality of life of the people who will actually live in the houses they are building.” Tenants who have moved into a council new-build say continuous construction dust and blocked fire exits pose serious health and safety risks Zkiah Smith was moved into Ignatius Sancho Road Estate in Ignatius Sancho Road, Kidbrooke, by Greenwich council in November 2024 tenants say the social housing block is already showing signs of “serious failings” The 34-year-old said: “I’ve had worsening health issues including headaches constant coughing and sneezing and sinus flare ups since moving in.” The Ignatius Sancho Road Estate is part of a development of more than 400 new council properties being built set to be complete by the end of next year With a flat overlooking an active building site Ms Smith believes her symptoms have been triggered by continuous exposure to construction dust She said: “The side facing the public road has dust barriers and protection like the surrounding private homes and the David Lloyd gym. But the side facing council flats has been left exposed.” Flats in all four blocks of the new development contain a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system designed to improve the indoor air quality But Ms Smith said: “I was never told about it and only found it later after I got ill The welcome pack made no mention of tenants responsibility Ms Smith – who has mobility issues – had to ask someone else to reach it She said: “To my horror one filter was black and almost burnt-looking one was thick with grey dust and a part was completely missing.” Ms Smith said she invested in two air purifiers my air purifier shows a red light signalling extremely poor air quality and must be run 24/7 A spokesman from Greenwich council said it is the responsibility of tenants to ensure that dust or debris is cleaned from their vents He said: “Now we know of this accessibility issue we’ll work with the tenant to ensure that our team makes themselves available to service their unit for them.” Other reported issues on the estate include “repeated” fire door and fob failures heating issues and a lack of accessibility for wheelchair users said she was “disgusted” by the building’s fire safety issues She said: “After Grenfel lessons were not learnt “We have one way in one way out of the building Our fire exit is our main entrance so when the main door jams shut we are forced to use the side exit which is in the bin room “But when the fire alarms go off a fire blanket comes down on that door so we are trapped in the building If there was a fire we will not get out alive.” Ms Hogben said she had raised her concerns with the housing officer but was ignored She said: “I am disabled and am being ignored at every complaint raised It is really scary not knowing what is going to happen.” A Greenwich council spokesman said: “We want to ensure all our residents have a safe and secure home that meets their needs and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to new tenants “We recognise the distress that some of the teething issues with the new doors have caused and we are working to address them as swiftly as possible.” After reaching out to other tenants facing similar issues Ms Smith began a campaign group on Instagram (@powertothepeasants) to call for a solution Developers have had more than enough time to learn from Grenfell by now Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Construction has started on a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Royal Greenwich Located on the site of the former Kidbrooke Primary School on Hargood Road providing spaces for 128 pupils aged 11 to 19.  With a growing demand for SEN provision across the country we are working to ensure that there is enough provision to meet the needs of local residents Rowan Wood School will address that gap and offer much needed support for young people with SEN.  Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “In Royal Greenwich we want children and young people to achieve great things and fulfil their incredible potential Developing environments like Rowan Wood School where additional support can be provided will empower them do that.   “The development of our SEN strategy last year has allowed us to work with and listen to the needs of our young people with SEN This tailor-made facility will provide the perfect setting for the next generation to learn and grow and is a great investment in the future of our borough." Rowan Wood will be managed by The Compass Partnership of Schools a leading trust dedicated to meeting the needs of students with SEN.  Estate Renewal and Development said: “This day marks the start of an exciting new chapter for our local education and planning sectors This is tangible proof of the resource we are inputting into much needed positive developments for our residents We are working on building more provisions like this in the borough to meet demand which I am eager to see come to fruition.”  The Royal Borough of Greenwich have appointed Galliford Try and Pick Everard to undertake the works.  associate director of project management at Pick Everard said: “It’s always rewarding to work on SEN schools and consider the unique design requirements that staff and pupils have for their space.  that means we’re consulting extensively with various stakeholders to ensure we are designing an inclusive space for all “The site is located in a residential area so we have worked very closely with both the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Galliford Try to ensure minimal disruption and see that everyone is on board with a project that will transform local educational need in the area.  “We’re looking forward to seeing the site evolve over the course of the year and have a positive impact on the region.”  Sixth form students took to the House of Lords on Friday after securing their place in the final of a keenly-contested debating competition Pupils from Thomas Tallis School, in Kidbrooke Park Road, Kidbrooke were narrowly pipped at the post by a team from Buckinghamshire’s Aylesbury Grammar School in the last round of Debating Matters The Greenwich youngsters spoke against the motion that ‘assisted dying should be legalised’ the students impressed the judging panel consisting of Baroness Vere of Norbiton Baroness Vere of Norbiton said: “Both teams debated the final very well It was a pleasure to be part of the judging panel” the Kidbrooke based school defeated Cheshire’s Congleton High School in a debate on artificial intelligence who won the prize for best individual in the debate said: “It was a really insightful experience and I was able to see different viewpoints in the debates “We came to the House of Lords and had a wonderful tour “We were able to get a great experience with multiple schools and really engage in educated discussion I thank Debating Matters and the House of Lords for giving us this opportunity” The Debating Matters competition is part of the House of Lords engagement programme which connects members of the Lords with new audiences and opens up new ways of explaining the work of Parliament’s second chamber Pictured top: Pupils from Thomas Tallis School who took part in the final of Debating Matters at the House of Lords on Friday (Picture: House of Lords 2025 / photography by Roger Harris) Rider arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following death of woman in her 60s News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A woman in her 60s has been killed after being hit by a motorbike in south-east London The crash happened in Kidbrooke Park Road Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene and the pedestrian was treated by paramedics but despite their efforts to save her she died at the scene “Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers,” said the Met on Tuesday The motorcyclist - a 29-year-old man - stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving The Met is investigating and has appealed for any witnesses or anyone who captured the incident on dash cam or CCTV to come forward 'Light at the end of the tunnel' after TfL cyber attack Police hunt 'lone' suspect after acid attack at west London school Mayor strikes optimistic tone on HS2 as he urges more transport investment Court to hear Christian school worker’s appeal against dismissal over LGBT posts Detective Sergeant Rob Groombridge, from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The police investigation is ongoing and officers are working to obtain CCTV and other footage that is essential to the investigation I am appealing for anyone who saw the incident but has not yet to spoken with police to contact us.” Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Collision Unit on 020 8285 1574 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital Premiere League-backed football programme launches at Kidbrooke Village  Are you looking for an opportunity for your children and teens to get active The chance for them to kick a ball around and play with like-minded peers Young people in Greenwich are invited to join in the new football programme at Kidbrooke Village To launch the new youth sports programme in August Berkeley worked with local partners to deliver a day of free activities at Kidbrooke Village’s flexible sports facility The sports day saw young people get involved in free sessions from Pure Gym and Kent Cricket as well as visit wellbeing stalls on nutrition and more – plus local teens had the chance to get involved in sessions from Charlton Athletic Community Trust Charlton Athletic Community Trust is funded by the Premier League to deliver Kicks a community sports programme designed to inspire marginalised young people and help them reach their full potential Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling are among the many footballers to have supported the scheme Kicks sessions are available to local teens (aged 8-18) every Monday between 5pm and 7pm at Kidbrooke Village alongside regular mentoring and employability workshops for young people at Kidbrooke Community Hub Berkeley has recently refurbished the multi-use games area at Kidbrooke Village and has a new system in place to ensure that at least one court is freely available for walk-ins every day used for a wide range of sports for all ages The games area lies at the entrance to the 20-acre Cator Park which Berkeley designed in partnership with The London Wildlife Trust these two community facilities provide opportunities for local people to get outside and be active said: “We are really pleased to be able to host Kicks here every week We’ve been working closely with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and partners in the community to make sure that local people feel the benefits of regeneration at Kidbrooke Village.” He adds that events like the sports day “are a great reminder for everyone of all the fantastic public facilities available to enjoy Charlton Athletic Community Trust diversionary and mentoring manager said: “The partnership between Charlton Athletic Community Trust and Berkeley will provide young individuals with continued access to high-quality local venues and resources that might otherwise be inaccessible “Together we’re enabling consistent sports provision outreach and mentoring programmes while reducing barriers to participation for young people continue promoting healthier lifestyles and support social cohesion and community wellbeing.” www.kidbrookevillagelondon.co.uk We'll never send you spam or share your email address Find out more in our Privacy Policy Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Residents at a new development have celebrated their first Christmas as a community with a festive market on Saturday Housing association Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) invited residents of Kidbrooke Square in Greenwich to the family-friendly festive extravaganza which featured entertainment and stalls Attendees were able to pick from a range of tasty treats from street food vendors including Racheal Cooks serving juicy jerk chicken Baruch to Bombay offering a taste of India with their biriyani and a feast of fresh flavours from Holy Pizza Visitors also explored arts and crafts stalls including Wyld Bunch providing handcrafted floral arrangements Stud and Pearl with handmade bespoke clay earrings and Spinached UK showcasing their range of organic superfood supplements A centrepiece snow globe provided the perfect backdrop and a photobooth was available for residents surrounded by the sound of seasonal songs from a live DJ The event marked the first coming together of residents from the development’s initial phase and offered an opportunity for the community to meet their new neighbour Pictured top: Kidbrooke Square residents browse the Christmas market (Picture: Notting Hill Genesis) The fatal crash took place on the A20 near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road on Thursday night A heavily pregnant woman and her baby have died in a collision involving an unmarked police car in south-east London The 38-year-old and her unborn child were killed as a result of injuries suffered in the crash on the A20, near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road, Eltham An unmarked police car was in collision with a member of the public’s vehicle at about 6.15pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said Firefighters cut the roof off a car to free a woman Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers Murder probe launched as man dies weeks after south-west London stabbing Paramedic recalls row with police over whether patient had Novichok poisoning Pregnant woman died after car 'flipped three times' in crash with police vehicle Former Fulham Ladies captain says Mohamed Al Fayed assaulted her The car being driven by the pregnant woman "flipped three times" before she died, an eye witness has claimed. claimed the woman was turning into the Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre when an unmarked police car "driving on the wrong side of the road" collided with her He told the PA news agency: "Four police cars had their lights on racing down the road The speed they were doing - I've never seen anything like it One of the cars hit her and she flipped three times The eyewitness claims a man came running out of the sports centre shouting "that's my wife" and "she's pregnant" He said: "The man rushed over and was shouting her name "I hoped she was going to be okay but then heard today that she'd died." One neighbour said that the junction where the crash happened “is one of the most dangerous in south-east London” One tribute read: “My deepest thoughts are with you The most awful tragedy that should never have happened and hope your family get some justice Another local said: “This is a very dangerous road I didn’t hear anything but when I looked out of the window I saw loads of police cars and emergency service vehicles “I saw what looked like a beige car with a dent in the side “The police were here for ages and the road didn’t start to open properly until Friday morning.” One resident said they had been brought to tears by news of the incident and recalled seeing “loads of emergency vehicles” throughout the night Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich said: “My heart goes out to the woman’s family and friends who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances “An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist with their enquiries in any way we can “A road closure will remain at the scene today and I am grateful for the patience of the local motorists Two officers who were in the unmarked car were also taken to hospital following the collision An IOPC spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have started an independent investigation into the circumstances of a fatal collision involving Met Police in south east London last night “We were notified that an unmarked police vehicle was in collision with a member of public’s vehicle at around 6.15pm on the A20 near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road of the vehicle was a heavily pregnant woman “We sent investigators to the scene and post-incident process to begin gathering evidence Our investigation is in the very early stages “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who has died and all of those affected by this tragic incident.” London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 6.16pm on Thursday 17 October to reports of a road traffic collision in Sidcup Road “We sent a number of resources to the scene members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) “We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance “Our crews treated four patients at the scene We took a pregnant woman and two police officers to a London major trauma centre by road “A male patient was also taken to a local hospital by road A man who died from multiple stab wounds in Kidbrooke last week has been formally identified as Leo Marcus Police have now charged a man with Leo’s murder – nineteen-year-old Shackim Taylor robbery and possession of an offensive weapon He was charged in the early hours of Tuesday morning (July 16) and will appear at the Old Bailey today (Thursday This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Street artists have made their mark with vibrant graffiti works outside a development in Kidbrooke Housing association Notting Hill Genesis partnered with Global Street Art (GSA) to invite South London artists to paint murals on the hoardings around its development in Kidbrooke Square and Noys – spent a few days working together to create the piece The artwork has been created as part of London Mural Festival an event organised by GSA ,which celebrates some of the world’s best street artists and features more than 100 murals across the capital Notting Hill Genesis intends to incorporate the artwork into the development featuring the hoardings as part of a meanwhile use pop-up market which will be launched next year said: “We’ve collaborated with a range of partners this year who have provided us with the spaces for our artists to express themselves “It was great to work with Notting Hill Genesis to find an innovative use for the hoardings They were particularly committed to supporting local street artists we were able to host a graffiti jam session on site bringing together celebrated artists across four generations of the artform Kidbrooke Square will feature 600 new homes alongside community spaces including a co-working space and a public square to host events such as monthly markets Pictured top: The new street art outside Kidbrooke Square development (Picture: Notting Hill Genesis) Looking for budget-friendly things to do with the kids in the Easter holidays Two Easter scavenger hunts are taking place in two southeast London neighbourhoods next week – and they’re both free Berkeley Group developments Kidbrooke Village and Royal Arsenal Riverside will be hosting a day of free family fun in southeast London – from scavenger hunts to face painting there’s something for everyone – and you don’t need to book in advance What’s on:  Little ones can get creative with arts and crafts or have their faces transformed at the face painting station who will be bringing some of their most adorable residents along – perfect for animal lovers who want to meet pet and learn about a range of farmyard friends Kidbrooke Village is one of London’s most significant brownfield regeneration projects with £1 billion of investment made to transform the former Ferrier Estate into a sustainable neighbourhood with nature at its heart Set amongst 86 acres of parkland and open space yet close to the hustle and bustle of central London Kidbrooke Village offers the best of both worlds Delivering 5,000 homes of mixed tenure by 2030 What’s on: Royal Arsenal Riverside will be hosting its own Easter celebration this time set against the backdrop of one of southeast London’s most historic quarters there will be a very special guest hopping by – Peter Rabbit himself will be making an appearance to say hello and pose for photos With its very own creative district, existing residents of Royal Arsenal Riverside are effortlessly plugged into the local arts and culture scene. London’s new cultural hub, Woolwich Works, is one of the city’s most atmospheric venues home to music, comedy and theatre. Sign up to get LondonDaily.News delivered to your inbox. Councillors visited the site of a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) school to mark the start of construction. Located on the former site of Kidbrooke Primary School in Hargood Road, Rowan Wood School will provide spaces for 128 pupils aged 11 to 19. Councillor Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development said: “This day marks the start of an exciting new chapter for our local education and planning sectors.  “This is tangible proof of the resource we are inputting into much needed positive developments for our residents.  “We are working on building more provisions like this in the borough to meet demand which I am eager to see come to fruition.”  Greenwich council has appointed Galliford Try and Pick Everard to undertake the works which are due to be completed in early 2026. Simon Hembury, associate director of project management at Pick Everard, said: “It’s always rewarding to work on SEN schools and consider the unique design requirements that staff and pupils have for their space.  “At Rowan Wood, that means we’re consulting extensively with various stakeholders to ensure we are designing an inclusive space for all. “We’re looking forward to seeing the site evolve over the course of the year and have a positive impact on the region.”  Once opened, Rowan Wood will be managed by The Compass Partnership of Schools, a leading trust dedicated to meeting the needs of students with SEN.  Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “In Greenwich we want children and young people to achieve great things and fulfil their incredible potential.  “Developing environments like Rowan Wood School where additional support can be provided will empower them do that.” Pictured top: Councillors and workers on site to mark the start of construction (Picture: Greenwich council) Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A car being driven by a heavily pregnant woman during a crash with an unmarked police car “flipped three times” before she died The incident happened on the A20, near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road, Eltham, at around 6.15pm on Thursday, according to the Metropolitan Police A heavily pregnant 38-year-old woman and her unborn baby died as a result of their injuries claimed the woman was turning into the Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre when an unmarked police car “driving on the wrong side of the road” collided with her He told the PA news agency: “Four police cars had their lights on racing down the road The speed they were doing – I’ve never seen anything like it The eyewitness claims a man came running out of the sports centre shouting “that’s my wife” and “she’s pregnant” He said: “The man rushed over and was shouting her name “I hoped she was going to be okay but then heard today that she’d died.” Another eye witness told the Telegraph an unmarked police car, thought to be a black Volvo had its blue lights and siren on at the time The unnamed witness said: “I heard it before I saw anything and I looked out of the window and I saw the unmarked police car My heart goes out to the woman’s family and friends who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances but it looked like it was doing some speed flipped about three times across the pavement and then turned upright and landed there.” A video captured by Abu Bakar showed the aftermath of the incident A blue vehicle on the side of the road looks badly damaged and an unmarked black SUV police car has pulled over with flashing lights two officers who were in the unmarked car were taken to hospital following the collision “An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist with their inquiries in any way we can. “A road closure will remain at the scene today and I am grateful for the patience of the local motorists, who will need to use alternative routes.” Residents in Eltham told the PA news agency the junction where the crash happened “is one of the most dangerous in south-east London”. One said: “They drive really recklessly and it’s a very busy road, so I see how it could happen. It’s very sad.” Another resident said they had been brought to tears by news of the incident and recalled seeing “loads of emergency vehicles” throughout the night. Flowers have been laid at the scene of the incident. One of the tributes laid on the road said: “My deepest thoughts are with you, your baby and your family and friends. The most awful tragedy that should never have happened and hope your family get some justice. RIP beautiful lady and your baby.” A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it was investigating the incident and is appealing for witnesses. IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have died and all of those affected by this tragic incident. “It is important we establish all of the circumstances surrounding this incident and our investigation is in its very early stages. “This is a busy road, and the collision happened in the early evening when people are likely to have been travelling. We would like to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity at the time and may have witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it. “Anyone who saw anything or has footage is encouraged to get in touch with our investigators.” The Metropolitan Police declined to comment further. Police investigating a fatal collision in Kidbrooke are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward Police were called at 8.30am yesterday to reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a motorbike in Kidbrooke Park Road at the junction with Pegler Square Officers and London Ambulance Service crews attended A woman – aged in her 60s – was treated by paramedics but despite the best efforts of emergency services Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers The motorcyclist – a 29-year-old man – who stopped at the scene was arrested by officers on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving Detectives from the Roads and Transport Policing Command are leading the investigation They would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or captured it on dash cam or CCTV from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit “I am appealing for anyone who saw the incident but has not yet to spoken with police to contact us.” Pictured top: The junction where the tragedy occurred (Picture: Google Street View) https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2019/01/28/london-wildlife-trust-bringing-kidbrooke-alive-with-wildlife/ Mathew Frith, Director of Conservation at London Wildlife Trust writes a guest blog about work to ensure a new development in Kidbrooke supports nature conservation An elegant heron skulks deftly amongst the reeds in search of fish whilst hawker dragonflies whirr zigzaggedly over lily-pad waters The summer afternoon is abuzz with the sounds of nectar-hungry hoverflies and bees and the effervescent chirrup of reed warblers and reed buntings Elsewhere families are lazily lolling in buttercup meadows whilst a couple try and keep their neverstop dog from catching a squirrel a place where wildlife is part and parcel of a new urban neighbourhood Kidbrooke Village is being developed by Berkeley Homes on the site of the late – and notorious - Ferrier Estate, and lies on the catchment of the delightfully named River Quaggy just south of the A2 in south-east London New landscaping improvements designed by London Wildlife Trust represent a positive step in delivering nature conservation gain here An employee working in a local school said: “Kidbrooke has been transformed I’m glad to see that effort is being made to improve access to nature for future generations.”   Over 4,800 new homes will be built at the Village over the next twenty years, along with Cator Park - 20 hectares of parkland creating a multi-functional green corridor linking Sutcliffe Park to the south with the nature reserves at Kidbrooke Green and the Trust’s Birdbrook in the north the new landscaping was implemented in 2018 (following a consented scheme) including species-rich meadows and wetland with benefits for wildlife and local residents alike London Wildlife Trust has been developing its approaches to biodiversity net gain following on from delivering Woodberry Wetlands (in which Berkeley Homes has been a supportive partner) and learning valuable lessons from our earlier off-setting pilot projects with Network Rail Kidbrooke Village is one of several projects we are working on with the Berkeley Group to help ensure biodiversity net gain is met on all their future development sites Our partnership is based on a growing understanding of the bigger role biodiversity has in creating healthy vibrant neighbourhoods for future generations Designing and implementing biodiversity net gain goes hand in hand with delivering a climate-change resilient development and in London will typically include habitat creation biodiverse sustainable urban drainage systems and green roofs and wildlife features such as swift bricks and bee hotels The Wildlife Trust’s Housing Vision sets out our rationale well: “Built in the right way new housing developments can make a positive contribution to nature and to the health and wellbeing of people who live there Developments don’t have to squeeze out wildlife The benefits are clear: trees in urban areas improve the view provide shade and help reduce pollution and flash flooding; community green spaces bring people together; and local parks and woods are valuable places for people to walk Whilst it may be many years before red kites return to the skies over Kidbrooke (from the Old English cyta brocca ‘the brook over which the kites fly’) the net gains the Trust is helping to deliver here and at other regeneration schemes help to demonstrate the potential for securing richly biodiverse neighbourhoods in London with all the additional benefits they provide for people Defra’s current consultation on making Biodiversity Net Gain a mandatory requirement in the planning system is a significant step towards achieving this aim This is positive but needs careful consideration of how it will be delivered in practice if we are to secure tangible and sustained gains for wildlife in an increasingly crowded city Please have your say before the closing date on the 10 February Consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/biodiversity-net-gain-updating-planning-requirements Follow Natural England on Twitter, and sign up for email alerts here Tags: , We’re the government’s adviser for the natural environment helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy Find out more A housing developer has admitted to discouraging residents from filing objections to planning applications it submits The development director of Berkeley Homes said at a Greenwich council meeting on December 10 that controls were in place throughout residential leases to avoid negative representations being made The news was revealed during a meeting in which the planning board was considering two applications for a project to deliver 663 new homes alongside a new four acre green space to the site between Duke of Wellington Avenue and Beresford Street Outline planning permission for the Woolwich scheme was originally granted by the authority in April 2013 The updated project will see seven blocks rising up to 18 storeys-tall. A total of 306 ‘affordable’ homes would also be delivered including 90 social rent units on site and 25 homes at the developer’s Kidbrooke Village scheme A further 101 units would be available for shared ownership and 90 would be sold at a discounted rate who has lived in the Royal Arsenal for 14 years said at the meeting that he was the secretary for a local residents’ association consisting of 519 people He criticised the consultation carried out by Berkeley and felt residents’ concerns had not been fully addressed by the developer Mr Doe said at the meeting: “Berkeley Homes already exercises far too much unaccountable power over the Royal Arsenal “This is a private company which ignores existing residents and delivers services and utilities in ways which prevent said in response that there was no formally recognised residents’ association at the Royal Arsenal but that the developer would welcome such a group He added that 3,600 letters on the scheme were sent out to locals during the project’s consultation stage Labour Councillor Gary Dillon asked Mr Prichard if there was a ‘gagging order’ in place for occupants of Berkeley developments that prevented them from objecting to applications Mr Prichard said that residents’ voices can be heard during consultation he said controls within residential leases ask that residents don’t make formal objections to planning applications Labour councillor David Gardner said: “I have never heard of that before not putting that stipulation on any future leases Mr Prichard responded by saying the request to residents was never enforced despite being included in leases for a number of years and the developer believed in the right to free speech Cllr Dillon asked if the stipulation could be removed from future leases to which Mr Prichard said he would have to consult with the developer’s legal team The planning board voted to agree to the proposed changes to the housing scheme Cllr Gardner described the updated fire safety provisions as necessary and praised the affordable housing provision alongside the design of the buildings Pictured top: A CGI of one of the new buildings for the project based on the corner of New Warren Lane and Duke of Wellington Avenue (Picture:  PRP Architects / Berkeley Homes)