Habibat Internal Swift Access Brick
Update image, intro, key features and then design and performance below
Key Features:
- Integrated swift nest box designed for installation during construction
- Supports biodiversity enhancement and planning requirements
- Designed with support from the RSPB
- Recognised for suitability by Swift Conservation
- Durable masonry nest box providing long-term habitat provision
- Manufactured in the UK to suit standard UK brick sizes
- Available in brick, stone or render-ready finishes
- Constructed using masonry materials with A1 reaction-to-fire classification
Design & Performance
Technical details, installation guidance and specification information
Design, Materials & Fire Performance
The Habibat Swift Nest Box is designed in accordance with BS 42021:2022 and manufactured using lightweight thermal masonry blocks to provide a stable and durable nesting environment within the building structure.
The unit is constructed using masonry materials with an A1 reaction-to-fire classification, with components bonded using A2-s1,d0 classified structural adhesive, making it suitable for modern construction where fire performance is an important consideration.
Boxes can be produced in brick to match the host building, supplied unfaced for rendered finishes, or manufactured in stone to complement traditional architecture, allowing the nest box to integrate discreetly into the building façade.
Designed for Swifts
The Habibat Swift Nest Box is designed to provide suitable nesting habitat for swifts, one of the UK’s most recognisable and rapidly declining bird species.
The use of masonry materials helps provide stable thermal conditions, supporting successful nesting. The design has been developed with support from the RSPB and is recognised for suitability by Swift Conservation.
Straight Forward Installation
The Habibat Swift Nest Box is designed for straightforward installation by bricklayers during the construction process.
Manufactured to standard UK brick dimensions, it integrates easily into masonry walls as the building is constructed.
- Sized for easy integration into standard brickwork
- Installed during construction with no retrofitting required
- Simple for bricklayers to incorporate into the build
- Supports programme certainty across multiple plots
- Designed to last the lifetime of the building
Applications
The Habibat Swift Nest Box is suitable for a wide range of developments including:
- New build housing developments
- High-rise residential buildings
- Schools and educational buildings
- Commercial developments
- Architect-designed buildings
- Mixed-use and regeneration schemes
Its discreet appearance and flexible finishes make it suitable for both modern and traditional architecture.
Supporting Planning & Biodiversity Requirements
The Habibat Swift Nest Box forms part of a wider biodiversity enhancement strategy, helping developments respond to ecological requirements and planning expectations.
Although swift nest boxes are not typically included within the statutory biodiversity metric, they are recognised under BS 8683:2021 as additional biodiversity enhancement measures contributing to the ecological value of a development.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) also requires developments to incorporate meaningful biodiversity improvements in and around buildings, making integrated swift nesting provision a practical and policy-aligned feature of modern construction.
Project Support
Habibat works with architects, developers, ecologists and contractors to ensure the right nesting features are selected and delivered effectively.
We can assist with:
- Advice on product selection
- Reviewing drawings and layouts
- Guidance on positioning and specification
- Support with planning and ecological requirements
- Practical advice on installation and buildability
Our aim is to make ecological enhancement straightforward and practical to deliver on site.









