Written questions

Planning: Environment Protection

Commons · Question 57369 · Tabled 4 Jun 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Official record

Answered 16 Jun 2025

Question

Asked by Greg Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the planning system within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on irreplaceable habitats.

Answer

Answered by Matthew Pennycook, 16 Jun 2025

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists. The Nature...