10 Apr 2025
Image description: A wading curlew foraging in water. Image by Rober So / Pexels. New planning reforms could push species towards extinction and destroy precious habitats, the UK’s leading nature organisations have warned the government. The heads of over 30 UK conservation groups have written to Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed and Housing […]
27 Mar 2025
A new report from Public First has urged the Chancellor to commit at least £1.5 Bn annually on flood defences in the spending review, with no current funding commitment from the Labour government on flood defences beyond April 2026. Image description: A house and powerlines submerged in water. Image by Wes Warren The […]
27 Jan 2025
As part of its commitment to “getting Britain building again”, the government is publishing a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector. The latest paper invites views on how the government could reform the process for consenting Nationally Significant Infrastructure […]
27 Jan 2025
Policy Connect has published a new report arguing that the Government should reform flood and coastal erosion risk management policy to protect vulnerable communities and deliver sustainable housing and economic growth. The fourth Bricks and Water inquiry by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum comes at a critical time. The new Government has committed to building 1.5 million […]
31 Dec 2024
Just before Christmas, the government (Defra and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) published a Planning Reform Working Paper. The paper invites views on the government’s proposed new approach to development and nature recovery. It forms part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further […]
25 Sep 2024
The Planning Inspectorate has published guidance on how Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) will need to take the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) into account. It said when reporting and on an NSIP application, the examining authority will need to consider the potential effects of any proposed development on: The environmental objectives and […]
12 Sep 2024
Natural England hosted a webinar focused on the growing importance of green infrastructure in urban areas, highlighting new tools and policies to integrate nature into urban planning. Alan Law, Chief Officer for Strategy, introduced the event, discussing the government’s focus on balancing economic growth, housing development, and infrastructure investment with nature conservation. He emphasised that […]
12 Sep 2024
Research led by the University of Sheffield, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, University of Exeter and University of Plymouth, shows Green Social Prescribing – supporting people to engage in nature-based activities – is an effective way of supporting people to improve their mental health More than 8,300 people with mental health needs took part […]
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