Oxfordshire wildlife trust slams government's Planning Bill

Forty leading economists, former government advisors, and nature experts have written to MPs ahead of the opening of the Public Bill Committee to warn of the dangers of rushing Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill into law.

Part III proposes a buy-out mechanism described as "pay to pollute" by the signatories, allowing companies to pay money to Natural England in exchange for destroying protected sites and species.

The bill companies to pay money to Natural England in exchange for destroying protected sites and species, the experts say (Image: Guy Edwardes) If passed, Part III of the bill would amount to a roll-back of nature protections that have, until now, supported nature-positive development and growth in England for more than 40 years, the signatories say.

They also argue the Nature Levy would turbo-charge the destruction of species and habitats in England, while undermining the UK’s international reputation for pioneering high integrity, pro-growth nature markets.

Introducing a Nature Levy of this kind will add cost and delays to planning and development, harming the economy rather than helping it, they believe.

Estelle Bailey, chief executive officer at the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, said: "In its desperation to scapegoat the environment, the government fails to recognise the golden growth opportunity that investing in green development offers.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust says nature can be key to economic growth (Image: Ben Porter) "Nature and the economy are two sides of the same coin, and the government is gambling with the inheritance of future generations.

"By pitting growth against nature, this government is making a fundamental mistake.

"Nature is not a 'blocker' to growth, as the Prime Minister claims, but the very foundation on which our economy rests and depends. Destroy it, and everything collapses."

Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland, who directs the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science at the University of Oxford, added: “Over the last few years, the UK has presented itself as a leader in innovative approaches to nature recovery, and a champion of biodiversity at home and abroad, with much cross-party support.

Forty leading economists, former government advisors, and nature experts have written to MPs with concerns about the bill (Image: Terry Whittaker) "Although taking a strategic approach to recovering nature in the context of other priorities is important, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is far too vague about how this would be done - and its 'licence to trash' provisions go against the evidence and threaten to undo recent progress.

"Nature is not an obstacle to prosperity, it underpins it."

The letter, which calls for a pause to Part III of the bill to allow for proper due process, has also been signed by Isabella Tree, author of award-winning Wilding, and fellow Knepp Estate conservationist Sir Charlie Burrell, alongside Prof Sir John Lawton, author of Making space for nature.