It is possible to have new housing and homes for nature

TWO weeks ago, I submitted a written question to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Nature. I asked if our treasured landscapes remained safe under this Government. In the vague reply to my written question, the minister did not reassure me.

- Richard Foord MP

“This Government is working with a range of partners to consider the impact of the Protected Landscapes Duty... The duty is intended to facilitate better outcomes for England's protected landscapes, which are in line with their statutory purposes.”

It is little wonder that with such a reply, more than 200 environmental charities remain on high alert.

We live in an area that is surrounded by national parks (Exmoor and Dartmoor), and areas that were previously known as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), that are now called national landscapes. These breathtaking tracts of countryside and coastline were designated decades ago - assigned for their special scenic and heritage qualities.