Ministers ‘break word’ on protecting nature after weakening biodiversity planning rule | Planning policy
The groups said the government had broken its promise to protect nature by weakening planning rules for housing developers.
While developers once had to create a “biodiversity net gain” (BNG), which meant creating 10% more space for nature on site before construction took place, housing minister Matthew Pennycook announced exemptions to the rule on Tuesday.
According to the new rules, development areas under 0.2 hectares are exempt from the policy. Analysis by the Wildlife Trusts found this means an area the size of Windsor forest across England will no longer be naturized.
The move is part of a larger package aimed at helping the government meet its target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of parliament. This includes a default “yes” answer to suitable homes to be built around railway stations and a possible exemption from the building safety levy for small and medium-sized house builders.
Wildlife Trusts chief executive Craig Bennett has accused housing secretary Steve Reed of breaking his promise to him. He said: “In January this year, as environment minister, Steve Reed made a solemn promise that the government was ‘committed to delivering a net gain for biodiversity’. Now, as housing minister, he has broken that promise.”
Nature groups also complained that the rule change put private investment in nature at risk. Private firms have already raised £320 million for habitat restoration since the BNG rules came into force in February 2024.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “The decision to exempt areas under 0.2 hectares from BNG flies in the face of the UK government’s promise to be ‘the greenest government this nation has ever had’. It is a blow to nature, local communities and business confidence in the future of BNG.”
Wildlife and Countryside Link warned that exempting so many small areas could still “completely ruin the policy”, especially when small developments dominate England’s planning system. Approximately 95% of planning applications are for areas under 1 hectare, 88% for areas under 0.5 hectare and 77% for areas under 0.2 hectare.
Reed said: “At the moment we still see a planning system that doesn’t work well enough. A system that says ‘no’ rather than ‘yes’ and would rather block rather than build.”
“This has real-world consequences for those who want to own their own homes and hope to escape so-called temporary accommodation; we owe it to the people of this country to do everything in our power to build the homes they deserve.”
The plans could reduce the need for brownfield sites for BNG delivery. Pennycook announced the government will consult on how to ensure the system supports brownfield-first development while making it easier and cheaper to deliver biodiversity habitats off-site through simplified rules.
The government is currently consulting on whether and how nationally important infrastructure projects such as airports, roads and incinerators can deliver net gains in terms of biodiversity.
Nature advocates said ministers must hold these projects to high standards to prevent mass destruction of habitats.
Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “To deliver on its election promise to halt wildlife decline, the government must strengthen green economy rules rather than narrow them. Quickly implementing net gain across all major infrastructure and preventing developers from evading their environmental responsibilities should be clear priorities, not more detail.”
“So far this has been a parliament of delays and relentless threats of deregulation of nature. The public outcry in support of net gain should be a last-chance wake-up call that environmental promises are not a jackpot won at the ballot box. Restoring nature and halting pollution is an important test of government credibility and the time for action.”
