“Several charities are warning that the Planning Bill could bulldoze wildlife.” [Energy Live News]
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There is growing concern about how the key changes set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will affect wildlife.
Back in March, the RSPB was saying the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill must help deliver nature’s recovery, rather than weaken existing environmental protections.
Last month, the Wildlife Trusts declared that gaps in the Planning & Infrastructure Bill were “deeply concerning”, urging the Government to ‘fill in the blanks’ to avoid it undermining these vital nature protections.
And earlier this month, the nature group Wild Justice is threatening a judicial review against Labour’s planning bill.
Finally, several charities are warning that the Planning Bill could bulldoze wildlife, with the campaign spearheaded by groups including the RSPB, the National Trust and Wildlife & Countryside Link after recent meetings with ministers and the delivery of letters to all English MPs.
As the Wildlife Trusts are making clear, in their recent comment on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, “It’s not ‘nature or development’. It’s both.”
The UK Government needs to understand that high-quality, sustainable development doesn’t need to be at the expense of struggling wildlife or climate. It’s not a one or the other decision. With some specific changes to the Bill that are easy to agree to now, we can have wilder, healthier homes in the future.
The CEO of the Devon Wildlife Trust had this message:
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Nature needs to be included – YouTube
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