Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Nature-based Solutions Initiative briefing note

Report

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently being debated in the House of Lords, has farreaching implications for biodiversity, local democracy, and community wellbeing. While the Bill is intended to speed up planning and deliver new housing and infrastructure, all three parts of the Bill pose severe threats to biodiversity and local democracy. In particular, the proposed mechanisms in Part 3 risk enabling the destruction of some of England’s most precious habitats and species. In this briefing note we address Part 3 first, followed by a shorter summary of issues with Parts 1 and 2. We summarise key problems and identify which of the proposed amendments are most important for reducing the risk of biodiversity loss. We also identify opportunities to improve outcomes for nature and people through positive amendments. We provide an ordered list of all the most important beneficial amendments in Appendix 1, with a longer summary of all the part 3 amendments in the Appendix 2.

Authors: Smith, A; Chapman, K

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Nature-based Solutions Initiative, University of Oxford
• Place of publication: Oxford, UK
• Publication date: 2025-09-02
• Language: English
• Keywords: nature recovery; planning policy; planning law