UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Environmental groups slam Chancellor Rachel Reeves over late planning bill changes, accusing her of sidelining green rules for short-term growth.
As reported by The Guardian, Rachel Reeves faces criticism from nature groups after changes to the planning bill. They claim the bill weakens environmental protections.
The legislation changes come as the planning bill nears its final stage before becoming law.
How Rachel Reeves’ planning reforms could weaken green protections?
Under Rachel Reeves’ plan, developers could bypass environmental laws to build large projects, including AI datacentres. The reforms allow the government to override local environmental or water objections.
Environmental groups, including the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts, have slammed Ms Reeves. They accuse her of prioritizing short-term growth over meaningful planning reforms.
The chancellor wants to pass the planning bill before her 26 November budget. This would let the OBR include it in their forecasts and create £3bn in extra spending flexibility.
Charities have worked closely with ministers to craft a planning bill supporting both growth and wildlife protection.
She faced scrutiny after a video showed her boasting about ties with a major dignitary and lifting legal blocks on their housing project.
Plans for 21,000 homes in Sussex faced objections over water shortages, with concerns that drawing from Arun Valley rivers and wetlands could harm wildlife and local resources.
John Milne, MP for Horsham, slammed the chancellor’s intervention as heavy-handed government at its worst.
He said,
“This decision rides roughshod over the work that Horsham district council has been carrying out to find a balanced solution.”
Ms Reeves has proposed an amendment allowing the central government greater power over local planning. Under the proposal, the secretary of state could bypass councils that refuse planning permission due to environmental or water-related objections.
The amendment seeks to facilitate major infrastructure projects, such as AI data centres, which generate high CO2 emissions and strain local water resources.
The government claims the changes respond to investor concerns caused by the earlier weakening of the bill, though no data has been offered to support the claim.
Officials described the proposed “pro-growth” changes as key to speeding up its plans to build 1.5 million homes and achieve clean energy by 2030.
What did James Robinson say about last-minute planning bill changes?
Dr James Robinson, the RSPB’s chief operating officer, stated,
“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.”
He added,
“It looks like a cynical attempt to game a better forecast from the OBR, rather than a serious effort to fix the planning system.”
What did Alexa Culver say about new planning rules?
Alexa Culver, an environmental lawyer from RSK Wilding, stated,
“For the first time, the secretary of state will be able to make orders that prevent refusals of planning permission by planning authorities.”
She added,
“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.”
What did Joan Edwards say about the latest planning amendments?
Joan Edwards, director of policy at the Wildlife Trusts, said Rachel Reeves appeared focused on publicity for growth measures ahead of the budget.
He added,
“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.”
Richard Benwell’s views on last-minute changes to the planning bill
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, warned that the government’s efforts to speed up planning decisions would fail without putting the environment at the centre.
He added,
“Last-minute changes to the bill are being made in a hurried and piecemeal approach. This kind of scattergun policymaking doesn’t give businesses or investors the certainty they need to drive growth, and it puts the UK’s irreplaceable natural environment at risk.”
Steve Reed’s views on balancing nature and economic growth
Steve Reed, the housing secretary, stated,
“Britain’s potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed.”
He added,
“Sluggish planning has real-world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.”
Rachel Reeves’ views on the pro-growth planning bill
Rachel Reeves said,
“The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.”
She added,
“Our pro-growth planning bill shows we are serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again, backing the builders not the blockers to speed up projects and show investors that we are a country that gets spades in the ground and our economy growing.”
The UK’s planning and infrastructure bill
The UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces Spatial Development Strategies to coordinate local authorities and prevent duplication. It streamlines NSIPs by simplifying consultations and cutting legal challenges from three to one.
Energy connections are reformed with a “first ready, first connected” system to prioritize ready projects. The measures aim to speed up construction and support clean energy development.
