The UK government has announced plans to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing and to “get Britain building”.

The King’s Speech contained planning reforms via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The Bill will set out to unlock more housing and infrastructure across the country, supporting economic growth as well as the environment. The new legislation aims to help speed up and streamline the planning process, as well as increasing the speed of major development projects in alignment with government industrial, energy and transport strategies.

In response to news of the new Bill, the RSPB said ‘we need to enable development to occur in the right locations and be delivered in the right way. This means nature-friendly development that avoids significant harm to nature and actively supports its recovery.’ 

Now the Deputy Prime Minister and Defra Secretary of State have written to environmental NGOs on the planning and infrastructure bill. The letter illustrates the new government’s desire to use ‘the value gained from enabling development to proceed quickly and smoothly to support nature recovery.’

The letter of 20 July 20024 is addressed to ‘all those working in the environmental sector and who care for our natural environment.’ And goes on to say:

‘We have committed to building one and a half million new homes across the country over the next five years to tackle our housing crisis and boost economic growth. We must also accelerate infrastructure delivery to build the schools, transport links and green energy infrastructure that will not only help to grow our economy and create new jobs right across the country, but that will also materially improve people’s lives. 

Alongside this, we were elected on a platform to deliver for nature, taking urgent action to meet our Environment Act targets. We must protect, create, and improve spaces which increase climate resilience and promote nature recovery on land and at sea, recognising that ensuring positive outcomes for nature is fundamental to unlocking the housing and infrastructure this country urgently needs. 

Nature recovery remains a top priority alongside the need to overhaul the planning system, grow the economy, and reach net zero. This is not a matter of choosing one of these priorities over another. Sustained economic growth depends upon a healthy natural environment. 

We want to use the value gained from enabling development to proceed quickly and smoothly to support nature recovery – and to do so in a way that gives everyone involved greater certainty. And we will only legislate if we are confident that it achieves these outcomes. 

Our vision for an improved planning system will require government to work in partnership with civil society, communities and business. Most importantly, we recognise that we are only likely to the right answer by working closely with you – organisations with longstanding experience of what it takes to improve environmental outcomes on the ground. That is why we have sought to engage with you immediately with a view to ensuring a constructive dialogue over the coming months as to the best way forward.’

The full text of the letter can be read here.