The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has released a new guide to nature policies. The publication provides a plain English summary of the multiple and fast-emerging nature policies across the UK, and advice on how enhancing nature can add value to development projects. The legislative and investment-driven focus on nature is accelerating, with increased recognition that […]
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 […]
Reported in The Ecologist and elsewhere, the Supreme Court has ruled that environmental impact assessments should consider the climate impacts that would inevitably arise new projects, known as ‘Scope 3’ or ‘downstream’ emissions. The case was brought against Surrey County Council and its decision to grant planning permission for oil drilling at Horse Hill, near […]
The Environment Agency has published a summary of England’s draft regional and water resources management plans. It considers whether the proposed plans will secure resilient and sustainable water supplies up to 2050. Key issues highlighted in the summary include The Agency argues that “following recent droughts that some water companies are less resilient than expected”, […]
From BBC news Fears supplying water to thousands of new homes “will pose a significant risk” have led to the first planning objections from the Environment Agency. It is the first time it has objected to new housing over water concerns. The planned homes are all in the south of Cambridgeshire, which could see more […]
As announced in the recent Plan for Water, the government has published a new National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure. There is also a summary of responses and government response to the recent consultation on the Statement. In an (un)timely report published the data after the new National Policy Statement, the National Infrastructure Commission […]
New housing, commercial and infrastructure developments are set to be “nature positive” from November onwards, the government announced, with the plans backed by £16 million of funding for Local Planning Authorities and guidance to support the new approach. Developers in England will be required to deliver 10% “Biodiversity Net Gain” when building new housing, industrial or commercial […]
Major water projects could be fast tracked through planning under Government plans to reform the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime. On 25th January, Michael Gove, secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, told Parliament that his department is working with Defra, BEIS, Treasury and the Department for Transport on modernising the approach […]