A coalition of more than 60 environmental organisations, industry representatives and business leaders have criticised part three of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, calling on the government “to pause and rethink this legislation before it does irreversible harm to nature, to the integrity of the planning system, and to investor and public confidence”.
Convened by environmental consultancy RSK Wilding, the statement’s signatories include broadcaster and conservationist Chris Packham and representatives of organisations including the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management, the UK Green Building Council, Wild Justice and the Town and Country Planning Association, as well as former officials from Natural England and the National Trust.
They argue that part three of the bill, as currently drafted, “would irrevocably weaken environmental protections, create legal uncertainty, reduce investor confidence, and fail to support either sustainable growth or nature recovery”.
“We acknowledge the need to streamline planning and support growth,” the signatories said. “But half measures or weak compromises will not address the fundamental flaws in part three. A genuine solution must start with proper consultation, grounded in science, transparency, and collaboration with those who understand both development and environmental delivery.”
Among their criticisms, the signatories highlight proposals to centralise nature recovery funding through a levy system administered by Natural England, noting that previous levies “have repeatedly demonstrated inefficiencies”. “The private sector has proven its ability to innovate and scale environmental markets effectively — and must remain a trusted and integral part of the solution,” they said.
John Lawton, a former Government adviser, said: “Our statutes deserve better than unevidenced and rushed laws, which sweep away our tried and tested protections for nature. Legal changes of this magnitude should at least follow due process. A hurried competition for last-minute ‘rescue’ amendments to this dangerous bill helps no one, and will surely harm our environment, and our economy on which it depends. Normal, evidence-led, democratic due process is all we are asking for.”
The statement draws on legal opinions from King’s Counsel and analysis by the Office for Environmental Protection, which concluded the bill would result in a regression of existing environmental standards.
“This is not just an environmental issue — it’s a legal, economic and democratic one too,” said RSK Wilding’s Alexa Culver. “If passed unamended, this bill risks unravelling years of progress in nature recovery and undermining the very systems that allow for robust, credible development planning.”
Image: Jeon Sang-O from Pixabay
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