The Public Bill Committee on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill met for the first time yesterday (Thursday 24 April 2025).
The committee heard oral evidence from around 25 key figures, including, Mr Robbie Owen, Board Secretary and Director at National Infrastructure Planning Association, Sir John Armitt CBE, Former Chair at National Infrastructure Commission and Richard Benwell, Chief Executive at Wildlife and Countryside Link.
During his evidence session, Richard Benwell said that as an organisation Wildlife and Countryside Link supports aligning planning with environmental recovery, but is concerned and has repeatedly warned Ministers that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as currently drafted, lacks the safeguards necessary to meet the UK’s legally binding climate and nature commitments. Unamended, he believes the bill risks regression in the levels of protection offered to nature. You can read the organisation’s full submission to the committee here.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link said:
“Nature isn’t a blocker to development, it’s a partner for the healthy homes and green energy the country needs. But the current Planning and Infrastructure Bill trades environmental certainty for wishful thinking. Without stronger safeguards, it risks weakening vital protections, undermining climate and nature goals, and missing the chance to restore wildlife and a healthier environment to communities.
“The committee has an opportunity to create a legacy that puts nature at the heart of decision-making, rather than reverting to one that treats environmental improvement as an afterthought. To do that, it must ensure robust environmental safeguards are written into the Bill. Without them, Government risks laying a foundation which won’t stand up to the needs of people or nature now or in the future.”
