Environmental bodies to be stripped of powers to delay building
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Environmental bodies will be stripped of their powers to delay major infrastructure projects in a bid to "get Britain building" again. In changes aimed at speeding up 150 road, rail and energy schemes, regulators will no longer be able to demand that developers mitigate environmental harm before construction can begin.
Instead they will be asked to contribute to a new Nature Restoration Fund, which will pool the money to fund larger strategic interventions to protect habitats and wildlife, rather than on a site-by-site basis. Politics Live: Badenoch brands Starmer's school reforms an 'act of vandalism'.
The new law is also aimed at unblocking housebuilding in areas affected by controversial nutrient neutrality rules. The water pollution restrictions have been blamed on preventing tens of thousands of new homes being built, with critics arguing houses have a minimal impact on nutrient levels in rivers compared with water companies and agriculture.
Former housing secretary Michael Gove sought to scrap the EU-derived rules in 2023, but this was prevented by a Labour-led rebellion in the House of Lords. However, it is understood Labour ministers are not worried about a repeat of this scenario because they believe the impact will be offset by the Nature Restoration Fund, which could be used to clean up rivers.
A source close to the plans said the government consulted with nature groups to find "a practical solution that works as a win-win" for the environment and building. Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside link, stopped short of criticising the announcement but called on Labour to honour its manifesto commitment to "restore the natural world".
