Government urged to stand up for nature

THE Government's “build baby build” agenda threatens to worsen declines in wildlife and special places across England, leading conservation charities have warned.

- EMILY BEAMENT

The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB said the Planning Bill is stripping protections from species, and changes to a landmark policy that makes developers pay to boost nature will shatter the new market for private investment in restoring habitats and wildlife.

They say the moves come against a backdrop of anti-nature rhetoric from some Cabinet ministers - and puts the Government out of step with the public, with polling showing people value nature and do not want it sacrificed for short-term growth.

They are calling on ministers to “stop scapegoating nature for economic woes’, with species such as bats and newts accounting for a very small percentage of planning appeals.

Ministers are being urged to fix the Planning Bill, resist weakening the ‘biodiversity net gain’ rules that require developers to create a net gain for wildlife when habitat is lost to development and build communities for people and nature to thrive.

The warning comes as the Planning Bill is in its final stages, with conservationists concerned vital safeguards for wildlife and habitats remain absent.