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A recent report from a cross-party group of Members of Parliament has highlighted that nature should not be considered an obstacle to housing development. They warn that treating environmental protections as a barrier could jeopardize both the government’s housing construction targets and its nature conservation goals. Central to this issue is the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which proposes changes that would override current habitat safeguards. The government views these protections as hindrances to its ambition of building 1.5 million homes by the conclusion of this parliamentary term.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), publishing its findings on Sunday, contends that the provisions in the bill fall short of enabling the government to meet these targets. Their report states, “Using nature as a scapegoat means that the government will be less effective at tackling some of the genuine challenges facing the planning system.” They emphasize that nature should be integrated into plans for resilient communities rather than seen as a barrier.
From the government’s perspective, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing expressed confidence that the legislation represents necessary reform of a flawed system. The reforms aim to create a positive outcome for both the economy and the environment. The Labour government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes across England by 2029 forms a key part of its strategy to address the housing shortage and stimulate economic growth. The proposed changes would simplify the planning process, making it easier to develop smaller housing sites by relaxing some habitat protections. If enacted, developers could instead contribute to a nature restoration fund, intended to improve habitats in other locations.
In response, the EAC urges the government to shift its focus toward fixing more pressing issues such as skills shortages in ecology, planning, and construction. Their report warns against viewing nature merely as an inconvenience, explaining that housing delays often stem from unclear policies, land banking, and workforce gaps. They further recommend incentives for building and living in environmentally friendly homes, suggesting measures to support green construction through tax adjustments and enhanced manufacturing viability. Environmental advocates, like Paul De Zylva of Friends of the Earth, criticize the bill for failing to protect nature while not guaranteeing quality housing. He argues, “Instead of attacking newts, bats and our nature laws to justify its growth-at-any-cost agenda, the government would be better focusing on delivering against its legal targets for nature which are at risk of being missed.” In contrast, the Ministry’s spokesperson reiterated their commitment to reforms that will simultaneously advance homebuilding and nature recovery, insisting this approach will help realize the goal of homeownership without sacrificing the environment
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