In a landmark move for British wildlife, the House of Lords has thrown its weight behind a pioneering law that will mandate 'hedgehog highways' in all new housing developments. This transformative amendment to the Planning Bill represents a major victory for conservationists and could provide a crucial lifeline for the nation's rapidly declining hedgehog population.
The new requirement will force developers to incorporate small, 13cm x 13cm holes in the base of fences and walls, creating a connected network of passages that allows the creatures to roam freely between gardens in search of food, mates, and shelter. This simple yet effective measure addresses one of the key threats to hedgehog survival: habitat fragmentation caused by impermeable garden boundaries.
A Critical Intervention for a National Icon
This legislative push comes amid alarming figures showing the UK's hedgehog population has plummeted by up to 75% in some areas since the year 2000. The beloved animal, a staple of the British countryside and garden, is now classified as vulnerable to extinction on the UK's red list for mammals.
Proponents of the bill argue that these tiny corridors are not just a nicety but a necessity for the species' survival. By enabling hedgehogs to access the larger territories they need—which can span up to 20 gardens—the highways directly combat the isolation that has crippled breeding and foraging efforts.
Overcoming Government Resistance
The successful passage through the Lords occurred despite initial resistance from the government. Ministers had previously argued that such specific ecological considerations should be addressed through national planning policy rather than primary legislation. Peers, however, overwhelmingly disagreed, recognising the urgency of the situation.
The amendment, championed by wildlife charities and cross-party peers, now moves to the House of Commons. If passed, it will mark one of the world's first legal mandates specifically designed to protect hedgehogs through urban planning, setting a powerful global precedent for urban wildlife conservation.
A Public and Political Groundswell
The campaign for hedgehog highways has seen remarkable public support, with thousands of homeowners already creating their own passages. The new law would standardise this practice, ensuring that future housing growth is designed with biodiversity in mind from the outset.
This top-down approach is seen as essential, as relying on individual homeowners to retrofit existing properties would be too slow to halt the species' decline. The move is widely praised as a practical, cost-effective solution that seamlessly integrates conservation into the built environment.
As the bill progresses, all eyes will be on Westminster to see if this innovative and compassionate piece of legislation will become law, securing a future for the humble hedgehog in modern Britain.
