🧵Previous attempts to speed up environment planning rules were deregulatory: ripping up rules defending rivers from pollution, habitat from destruction, wildlife from extinction. The #PlanningBill sets a new tone aiming for nature recovery & development.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0196/240196.pdf
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0196/240196.pdf
Comments
Schedule 4 would allow developers to "disregard" the Habitats Regulations if they pay a Nature Restoration Levy in accordance with a new Environmental Delivery Plan. This is a big change, affecting our most effective nature protections.
The idea is to speed up development by delinking individual applications from nature requirements.
So, polluters pay not just to offset but improve nature.
That guarantee is here in Clause 55(4).
💡marginal gain ("outweigh") can easily fall short
💡without enforcement, promises prove empty
💡individual species needs are often overlooked.
The industry is powerful; nature laws must be too.
💚Current laws hold the line, this aims for recovery
💚Pooling funds should lead to bigger, better nature
💚It should bring with it ecological planning resource
Mr Pennycook (housing minister) & Mr Reed (environment sec) have approached this in the right way.