UK Government Sets Out Significant Reforms to Environmental Regulation

Today (Wednesday 2 April), the UK Government has announced significant reforms to ‘streamline’ environmental regulations, aiming to boost economic growth whilst maintaining nature protection, as part of its wider ‘Plan for Change’.

Work has already begun on nine key measures the government believes will bring the greatest impact on growth and nature, with the remaining 20 recommendations under active consideration. The nine measures that have been fast-tracked include a "lead regulator" for major infrastructure projects, a revamped and centralised digital planning portal, and streamlined environmental permits.

The goal is to cut bureaucracy and accelerate approvals for infrastructure, housing, and renewable energy developments. Other notable measures include a new industry-funded ‘Nature Market Accelerator’ to boost investment into nature projects.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

“As part of the Plan for Change, I am rewiring Defra and its arms-length bodies to boost economic growth and unleash an era of building while also supporting nature to recover.

“Dan Corry’s essential report gives us a strong set of common-sense recommendations for better regulation that will get Britain building.”

Just yesterday (Tuesday, April 1), Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trusts, stated that housebuilders are not struggling to construct new homes due to restrictive planning laws, but rather because they are "very bad" at building houses—choosing instead to hold onto land and wait for property prices to rise.

In light of the new reforms, environmental groups will be somewhat sceptical that the government will be able to balance the need for growth, whilst adequately protecting the natural ecosystems that we rely on.

In response to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill announced earlier this month, Anna Hollyman, Co-Head of Policy & Places at the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), welcomed the bill but emphasised the need for community involvement. She stated, "communities must have a meaningful voice in ensuring developments meet their local needs, and ‘streamlining’ environment assessments must not be code for weakening standards.” The UKGBC is the membership-led industry network focused on transforming the sustainability of the built environment.

Time will tell as to whether this latest ‘streamlining’ will ensure environmental safeguards are not compromised in the pursuit of housebuilding and economic growth.

Read the UK Government's full press release here