Make hedgehog surveys & mitigation measures compulsory for all new developments.

The way we develop land has a direct impact on hedgehog survival. Preserving existing habitats and incorporating hedgehog-friendly features into new developments are essential for reversing their decline. Developers must be required to conduct hedgehog surveys & implement mitigation measures.

All development sites must undergo hedgehog surveys by qualified ecologists to inform planning decisions. Compulsory mitigations must include: 1. Legally require 13cm x 13cm gaps in all new fences & walls to allow hedgehogs to move freely. 2. Protecting existing habitats by prioritising the preservation of hedgerows, scrubland & other natural features crucial for hedgehog survival within development sites. 3. Enforcing responsible practices during construction to minimise impact on hedgehogs.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act introduces a package of planning reforms, including the introduction of new National Development Management Policies and updates to the National Planning Policy Framework. Defra is working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to incorporate nature into development through better planning for green infrastructure and nature-friendly buildings. These upcoming changes include considering how planning policy can promote the inclusion of nature-friendly elements in the built environment such as hedgehog highways.

Additionally, some developers are voluntarily factoring in hedgehogs in their developments; in partnership with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Bovis Homes has pledged to help hedgehogs by installing Hedgehog Highways in their housing projects. Plans also include putting hedgehog houses in green spaces within developments to increase nesting opportunities for the species.

The Government is committed to taking further action to recover the decline of our native species, including hedgehogs. In England, we have set four legally binding targets; to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030: then to reverse declines by 2042; to reduce the risk of species extinction by 2042; and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). The EIP23 revises the 25-Year Environment Plan as part of our ongoing obligations under the Environment Act 2021.