A planning law introduced in the city of Brighton & Hove, in England, calls for new buildings to include in their structure special bricks that provide nests for solitary bees and nesting boxes suitable for swifts, in order to increase biodiversity.

While “swift bricks” already appear in many UK planning policies, the inclusion of bee bricks is relatively new. Faye Clifton of Green&Blue, a company that manufactures bee bricks, said they recreate an existing type of nest that is popular with solitary bees, but which is becoming increasingly rare due to the precision of modern construction. Bee bricks are the same size as regular bricks, but integrate a series of narrow openings like those where solitary bees are known to nest. With solitary bees making up nearly 250 of the approximately 270 bee species in Britain, they play a fundamental role in the natural ecosystem.

However, the scientific community is divided over the effectiveness of bee bricks in helping biodiversity. Some suggest they could have unwanted consequences, as attracting mites and increase spread of disease; others say they are better than nothing, but far more substantial action is needed, otherwise these bricks could be used as an easy greenwash by developers.