Planning Bill changes anger nature groups

(by Karma Loveday)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has introduced a raft of late changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which it said were pro-growth and would result in more new homes, more clean energy, and greater water security.

The changes included: 

• Speeding up approval for large reservoirs by enabling non-water companies to build reservoirs that are automatically considered as nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). 

• Unlocking 3GW of onshore wind. 

• New powers for the secretary of state to stop councils rejecting planning permissions. MCHLG argued nearly 900 major housing schemes have been blocked in the past year alone. 

• Stopping planning permissions from being timed out for approved major housing schemes facing lengthy judicial reviews.

• Freeing up Natural England to choose when to provide advice to local authorities; at present it is required by law to respond to every query from local authorities that relates to nature. The new approach would enable Natural England to focus on higher priority planning applications and nature recovery, with standard guidance provided for straightforward cases.

• Allowing the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development.

  
  

Housing secretary Steve Reed said: “The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5m new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”

Environmental groups, many of whom have spent months working with ministers on the Bill to get a better balance for nature, have slammed the tabling of 67 last minute amendments. RSPB said on Twitter: “Rushed through with little scrutiny, it’s a shambolic way to reform the planning system. It creates confusion, sidelines science and leaves nature dangerously exposed.”

A key concern is that ministers will be able to overrule local democracy if councils refuse developments based on environmental grounds or water constraints.

The Bill is due to return to the House of Lords for Report Stage today. There is speculation that chancellor Rachel Reeves wants the bill to be passed before budget day on 26 November, so she can factor its impact into forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility.