The Government has defended its planning reforms, insisting there are ‘numerous safeguards’ in place to balance housebuilding with environmental protection.
The response comes after the Environmental Audit Committee warned that current policies may not allow the Government to meet both its housing targets and environmental commitments.
In a report on environmental sustainability and housing growth, MPs also highlighted skills shortages in ecology, planning and construction as a risk to the Government’s building ambitions.
In its response, the Government said measures linked to the Nature Restoration Fund will be ‘robustly monitored’, with Natural England judged on its ability to deliver benefits for both nature and development. It also reaffirmed support for Biodiversity Net Gain, while proposing exemptions for small sites to simplify the process for developers.
However, ministers rejected several recommendations from the committee, including calls for ecological resource hubs and mandatory whole-life carbon assessments for buildings, arguing that voluntary approaches and existing investments in planning and construction skills will support delivery.
