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The creation of a network of green roofs will provide habitat for rare birds on major buildings including The ICC, Birmingham.

This pioneering project to create wildlife habitats on the top of some of Birmingham’s best-known buildings has been given the go-ahead following a funding award of £175,000 from the SITA Trust. Birmingham’s ICC will be the first building in the West Midlands to have a green roof created to provide a habitat for rare birds.

The project will involve the creation of green roofs, which aim to recreate the type of habitat and plants found on underused industrial areas, favoured as foraging sites by rare black redstart birds.

The aim of the project is to conserve the black redstart whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious, with just 10 pairs thought to be left in the West Midlands.

The green roofs will also be created on buildings that include BVSC The Centre For Voluntary Action, Birmingham City Council’s Ladbrooke House and Islamic Relief headquarters at Trafalgar House.

Sites have been selected where black redstarts are, or were, known to exist and where it’s believed there are the best prospects for their re-establishment and survival.

Black redstarts have adapted to thrive on post-industrial land. Yet this is land that’s been targeted for redevelopment. The creation of the green roofs will replace some of the land that’s been lost and encourage them back into the city. Other species that will benefit include: bumble-bees, butterflies, and beetles.

Nick Waight, director, The ICC, said: “The ICC is delighted to be involved in the development of the green roof project and create a habitat within the venue where rare birds and wildlife can thrive in the city. It is fantastic that The ICC will be the first venue to have a green roof installed, with work due to begin in the coming weeks. Activity at The ICC generates around £200 million for the city and sustains the equivalent of 5,000 full time jobs and it is really important to us as a venue that we consider our environment too.”

The Black Redstart Habitat Creation project is being lead by Groundwork Birmingham and Solihull with a range of partners including: The ICC, Environment Agency, Birmingham Environmental Partnership, Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Partnership, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council, Islamic Relief, Land Care Associates, Living Roofs, Birmingham City Council.

Rosemary Coyne, Eastside Sustainability Advisor, Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull, said: “This is a huge opportunity to show that biodiversity can drive the transformational change needed to create sustainable communities”.

John Leaver, Chairman of SITA Trust, said: “This project will help a rare species that is in serious danger of disappearing from Birmingham. We sincerely hope that our funding will help it to survive and hopefully thrive here.”

Funding from SITA Trust is available for environmental projects within ten miles of landfill sites in England, through the Landfill Communities Fund. Community organisations can also apply. SITA Trust receives its funding from the waste management company, SITA UK. SITA UK owns a landfill site at Packington, in between Coventry and Birmingham.