Paul Harris/2020VISION
Planning and Infrastructure Bill – a disaster for nature
It's not "nature or development". It's both.
The UK Government promised to protect and restore nature. But less than a year in, new planning changes are set to weaken environmental protections for developments, like housebuilding.
This is bad for wildlife and for people.
We have tried to work with Ministers to highlights gaps for nature in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Yet at every stage our efforts have been ignored. Enough is enough.
We’re tired of hearing the blame for slow development being placed on wildlife when evidence shows this just isn’t true.
What you can do
Want development to work in harmony with nature? There’s no time to lose!
We’re demanding Ministers scrap Part Three of the Bill, which is the section that would weaken protections for wildlife. And you can help!
We’ve made it easy for you to email your MP, and we’ll copy in the Chancellor to every email. We want the Treasury to know that MPs are getting involved, and we want the Chancellor to hear from you too.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill Priorities
Read more about our priorities for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill below. This bill needs to provide confidence that any changes result in a win for nature.
We are proud members of Wildlife & Countryside Link and are backing the Wilder By Design campaign, highlighting three key asks for this Bill.
Beaver swimming with its head just above the water © Russell Savory
Include strong safeguards
It is CRITICAL that strong safeguards are embedded to ensure key environmental principles are upheld. First and foremost, ANY development should seek first to avoid harm and measures to improve nature should be secured in advance of development where possible. New plans intended to manage development impacts on nature NEED to be underpinned by scientific evidence and pass a strong legal test that they will significantly boost nature recovery before being adopted.
Luke Massey
Include protecting nature
This bill needs to be aspirational. It MUST take steps to protect and recover nature. We want Ministers to introduce new protections for chalk streams, local wildlife sites and wildbelt. It is CRUCIAL for all new development to include nature in their design.
