Nature groups rebuke Reeves for cynical' 11th-hour planning bill changes

"Last-minute changes to the government's landmark planning bill have sparked a furious backlash from nature groups who have mounted an attack on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, over her plans to remove environmental protections. The changes to the legislation come as it enters its final stages before being signed into law. Promoted by Reeves, they are designed to make it easier for developers to side-step environmental laws in order to build major projects such as AI datacentres."

"They include new powers for the government to overrule local democracy if councils refuse developments based on environmental grounds, or on issues such as water shortages. But in outspoken attacks on the chancellor, charities including household names such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts say Reeves is seeking to grab short-term growth headlines to save her budget, rather than well-thought-out reforms to planning."

"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."

Last-minute changes to the planning bill would ease developer access to major projects by enabling ministers to sidestep environmental laws and overrule local councils that block developments on environmental or resource grounds. The changes are timed to pass before the budget so the Office for Budget Responsibility can factor them into forecasts, potentially improving fiscal headroom by about £3bn. Major conservation charities, including the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts, oppose the revisions as rushed and politically motivated, arguing there is insufficient time for scrutiny, unclear cumulative impacts, and a risk of prioritising short-term growth over long-term nature recovery.

Read at www.theguardian.com