The Planning and Infrastructure Bill returns to the House of Commons tomorrow with MHCLG hoping to see this quickly pass into law.
We have today sent out a joint letter to all Labour MPs co-signed with 22 key stakeholders in the ecological, environmental, planning, natural resources and finance sectors in support of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in its current form following key amendments in the House of Lords, including in particular Amendment 40 (formerly 130).
Labour’s Environment Campaign – SERA supports the aims of the bill. We desperately need new housing and infrastructure, and we support the government in its work to ensure this is built at the speed and volume needed.
However, concerns remain that the removal of existing protections for species and habitat risk worsening the already parlous state of nature in the UK.
The signatories state their support for the Government’s ambition to accelerate essential development and deliver wins for both growth and the environment. They urge Labour MPs to support Amendment 40, which advances these goals by excluding protected species and habitats from the new Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs), while retaining EDPs’ role in addressing strategic, landscape-scale issues such as nutrient neutrality, water management, and air quality.
This approach gives industry the faster, more certain routes to delivery that the Bill promises, while ensuring that the nature people value is protected and restored.
Getting the balance right between nature and development in the Bill could not be more important for Labour. Research published today by More In Common shows that the general public are far more likely to support politicians who protect nature – not sacrifice it.
Delivering healthy natural systems alongside development and infrastructure is critical to unlocking growth and securing vibrant, resilient communities. A copy of the joint letter can be found here.
