Stourbridge housing developer celebrates green milestone

Stourbridge-based Kendrick Homes, which was established in 1880 by William Kendrick, has just planted its 650th tree in the National Forest as part of its ongoing sustainability pledge that also features a passionate approach to biodiversity.

The scheme was introduced three years ago, with a tree purchased for every house built and a certificate given to the homeowner as a token of appreciation and a reminder of the positive impact they are having.

“This is more than just a symbol; it plays a crucial role in combating climate change,” said Dale Ward, Technical Design Manager at Kendrick Homes.

“On average, a single tree can trap up to 3.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide during its predicted lifetime of 40 years. With 650 trees planted, this amounts to over 2,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide being sequestered over the next four decades, helping offset the carbon footprint of our developments and contributing to a healthier environment for future generations.”

“To put this into perspective, this equates to the same amount of carbon you would generate if you drove 17.1 million miles.

“Our collaboration with the National Forest underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship. By supporting its mission to plant more trees, we are not just building homes, we are also helping to build a sustainable future.”

This company says it is investing £750,000 into meeting new biodiversity net gain (BNG)legislation, which came into force in February this year, tasking its technical team to come up with a range of solutions that they say not only meet the regulations, but actually place them at the centre of its current and future developments.

So far, this has included putting bat and bird boxes, hedgehog domes and animal refuges across sites at Owlswick, Welford-on-Avon and Shurdington in Buckinghamshire, Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham respectively. 

The company has also invested in creating a great crested newt habitat area and two wildflower meadows. 

“Planning policy has changed, and we have spent significant time making sure our team is fully up to speed, working closely with local authorities to build biodiverse developments through the trees we plant, the wildflowers we seed and the natural habitats we are creating to protect wildlife," added Mr Ward.

“We’ve looked at biodiversity net gain as an opportunity to make our schemes even more sustainable.”