Swifts and their nests are legally protected in the UK. The growing recognition of their plight has led to policy developments including planning guidance on swift nest protection.
Swift nests destroyed during building renovation kill chicks and eggs directly, and prevent returning adults from breeding for years until alternative sites are found or built. The legal protection of occupied nests is poorly understood and inconsistently enforced. Developer education, planning condition requirements and swift brick mandates at local authority level are the most effective current mechanisms for preventing welfare harm.