A giant bug hotel has been installed at a Leeds housing development, creating new homes for both wildlife and people.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire commissioned Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project (CIC) to design and build the 2m by 4m structure at its Morwick Springs development on Leeds Road. The hotel also carries the initials MS to mark its new home.

Morwick Springs will deliver 293 homes as part of the East Leeds Extension, a major development of housing and community facilities along the new East Leeds Orbital Route. The site includes a mix of one to four-bedroom properties.

Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project is a social enterprise supporting people with additional needs into employment. Based in Staffordshire, its 8,000 sq ft warehouse includes teaching, printing and carpentry areas where wood products are created to provide habitats for hedgehogs, birds, bats, owls and insects. The organisation works with people aged 19 to 25 who have learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, as well as supporting ex-forces personnel, particularly those facing PTSD or amputation.

Sammy Holman, Autistic CEO of Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project, said: “Our ethos is to connect nature with people. Our larch bug hotels are educational study centres that attract such insects as lacewings, butterflies, bees, crawly insects, spiders, earwigs, beetles and woodlice.

“When you look at the biodiversity of the land, it is the small things that help run the planet, are part of our natural eco system and it is our job to save and protect them. Therefore, we encourage the new community at Morwick Springs to also make their gardens nature rich.”

Lucinda Dickens, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire, commented: “In building new homes, we are creating new communities and what better way to support all communities, including insects, than by installing such an incredible bug hotel. We hope our residents enjoy not just the beauty of the piece, but also what it is doing to support local wildlife.”

Morwick Springs is also the first gas free development for Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire. Each home will feature an air source heat pump, triple glazing, waste water heat recovery and an electric vehicle charging point.