Proposals to help developers meet their environmental obligations and contribute to nature recovery have been unveiled, following the launch of a new consultation.
The government has announced that the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include proposed reforms which aim to encourage ‘strategic action’ with three main steps.
First, the government suggests the introduction of a new legislative route in order to better deliver action at a strategic level.
Secondly, a new ‘flexible’ modular framework would also be introduced for public delivery bodies to consider which actions are needed to address environmental impacts strategically.
Finally, a new Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) would also be established to enable developers to fulfil their environmental responsibilities more quickly and with greater impact. This will allow developers to pay into the fund, as opposed to having to secure individual mitigation for any identified environmental harm before securing planning permission.
Through these changes, the onus of mitigation delivery shifts from the developer to delivery bodies, such as Natural England and local authorities through the introduction of ‘delivery plans’, which will outline how the body intends to reduce the impact of its plans for development using the NRF, thereby freeing up developers to start building immediately.
The proposed reforms demonstrate the government’s commitment to its target of delivering 1.5million homes this parliament and follow the release of the new National Planning Policy Framework which reintroduced enhanced mandatory housing targets and outlined how local authorities should allow development on the ‘grey belt’.
Whilst not a formal consultation, the white paper invites responses on a number of questions and responses are set to inform discussions with communities and the planning sector with feedback from the working paper informing the next stage of policy development. To find out more about the proposals, and to make a submission, visit the consultation page.
Harvey Davies, Environmental Consultant in the Thrings Planning and Environment team, said: “Whilst the government’s ambition to provide a simplified route to tackle these issues within the planning system will be welcomed by developers, the reality is that these changes rely on upcoming legislation. The devil will be in the detail of that legislation and it will take time for new policy and regulations to be implemented before anyone is able to get building quicker.
“It will be particularly interesting to see how the financial reward will be set for providing strategic mitigation and what the future role looks like for the existing mitigation markets that have grown significantly in recent years to meet developer demands.
“Whilst it is not a traditional consultation, it is important for those in the sector to have their say, especially if they feel the proposals could have an impact on their business.”
Thrings’ Planning and Environment lawyers have extensive experience in navigating complex local and national planning policy legislation and has successfully supported commercial and residential clients to optimise the use of their land to generate innovative new long-term revenue streams through the creation of natural capital projects and other diversification initiatives To find out more and for advice on your development proposals, please get in touch.