Ministers scramble to see off rebellion over planning bill

Some Labour MPs intend to rebel over the planning and infrastructure bill after constituents raised concern that it threatens protected habitats and wildlife.

- Helena Horton Sandra Laville Patrick Barkham

The Guardian understands that about two dozen Labour MPs are calling for ministers to force developers to build more than a million homes for which they already have planning permission before pushing through legislation that rolls back environmental protections for the most protected habitats in England.

Ministers are understood to be drawing up amendments to the most controversial part of the bill, part three, in an apparent scramble to head off a rebellion and quell the anger of wildlife groups, whose membership is many millions strong.

Sources close to the discussions said there were red lines that could not be crossed to make sure nature was protected.

Alexa Culver, an environmental lawyer with RSK Wilding, said ministers were expected soon to present "appeasement" amendments on part three so they could claim the legislation was not regressive.