Photo by Red Morley
Last-minute changes to the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill have sparked backlash from nature groups who have accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of removing environmental protections to secure growth headlines ahead of her budget. The amendments are designed to make it easier for developers to side-step environmental laws for major projects such as AI datacentres.
The changes include new powers for government to overrule councils that refuse developments based on environmental grounds or water shortages. Reeves is pushing for passage before her 26th November budget to factor it into Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, which could give her about £3 billion extra breathing room against debt rules.
Dr James Robinson, the RSPB’s chief operating officer, said: “Dropping 67 amendments to the planning bill at the 11th hour isn’t just poor process, it’s legislative chaos. There’s no time for proper scrutiny, no clarity on the cumulative impact, and no confidence this is about good planning rather than political optics. It looks like a cynical attempt to game a better forecast from the OBR, rather than a serious effort to fix the planning system.”
One amendment allows the secretary of state to overrule councils even with legitimate environmental concerns or water shortage issues. Alexa Culver, an environmental lawyer from RSK Wilding, said: “For the first time, the secretary of state will be able to make orders that prevent refusals of planning permission by planning authorities. This could direct authorities to ignore real-world infrastructure and environmental constraints – like water shortages – to allow harmful development through that leaves local communities stranded.”
The intervention comes after Reeves was filmed boasting about lifting legal blocks to 21,000 homes in Sussex despite concerns over water shortages and protected wildlife in the Arun Valley.
Joan Edwards, director of policy at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “The chancellor continues to fail to understand that a healthy natural environment underpins a healthy economy. These performative amendments represent neither a win for development or the economy, and promise only delay and muddle in planning and marine policy.”
The amendments also affect marine infrastructure, giving ministers stronger powers to direct decisions on marine projects. The changes extend the Nature Restoration Fund’s remit to support marine developments. Marine planning expert Dickon Howell noted the changes could reshape offshore wind, grid connections and port planning, but cautioned success depends on ensuring “restoration funding genuinely delivers marine benefits rather than being absorbed into generic schemes”.
The government claims the measures could add £7.5 billion to the economy over the next decade. Steve Reed, the housing secretary, said: “It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed.”