Nature is vital to growth, not an impediment
On 23 September, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered The Growth Plan 2022 or "mini-budget". In his speech, Kwarteng laid out the Government's plans to streamline the planning system for major infrastructure projects, which he described as "too slow and fragmented" (1). Kwarteng also announced plans for local investment zones, where the Government will "liberalise planning rules" (1). This "liberalisation" will involve new Bills to reduce planning rules and scrap existing EU and environmental regulations (2). Currently, 38 local authorities in areas including Teesside, Coventry and Newquay, are in discussions with the Government about plans for the new Investment Zones which would be exempt from a range of regulations and environmental protections (3).
The announcements have been met with a significant backlash from environmental groups and conservationists. On 26 September, the RSPB launched a series of tweets highlighting the risk that deregulation poses for nature (4). Using #AttackOnNature, multiple other organisations, including the The Wildlife Trusts , Freshwater Habitats Trust , CPRE The countryside charity and the Landscape Institute have joined the call for the Government to reconsider and urged people to take action and #DefendNature.
More recently, the Government released the Expression of Interest (EOI) form and guidance for Local Authorities interested in applying for an Investment Zone (5). Reading the EOI, the The Wildlife Trusts have expressed concern; applicants will not be required to use the mitigation hierarchy, nor will they have to avoid developing in areas such as National Parks, Sites of Scientific Interest or Green Belt (6). Information is lacking on how environmental impacts will be assessed, and engagement with Local Planning Authorities and stakeholders is likely to be limited and rushed (6).
This Monday, 78 organisations also penned an open letter to Prime Minister Louise Truss. The letter outlines how environmental disruption resulting from implementing The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and Planning and Infrastructure Bill will impact nature, the economy, public health, and wellbeing (7).
Research has shown that not just environmental organisations are unhappy with the plans. A poll of UK voters has also found public disdain for the deregulation plans (8). Half of the respondents (53%) felt we should strengthen regulations that protect workers and the environment, regardless of the impact on growth, and 60% believe we should develop regulations that are as robust or more robust than the EU's (8).
CFP would like to add its voice to the organisations and the public who stand against plans to reduce environmental protections. We believe in protecting nature not just for its own sake but because it plays a key role through the services it provides; nature is vital to our mental and physical health; it regulates our surroundings and mitigates climate change, and ultimately supports our economy and wider society. Nature is essential to growth, not an impediment.
We urge anyone reading this to follow the link below to email their local MP to express their anger over the plans to deregulate vital environmental protections and hold them accountable for the actions of this Government.
You can also share your thoughts as part of the People’s Plan for Nature by following the link to the National Trust webpage below.
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(1) GOV.UK. (2022). The Growth Plan 2022 speech. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-growth-plan-2022-speech
(2) BBC. (2022). At a glance: What's in the mini-budget? Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62920969
(3) The Guardian. (2022). Kwasi Kwarteng announces ‘investment zones’ with huge tax cuts for businesses. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/23/kwasi-kwarteng-mini-budget-announces-investment-zones-with-huge-tax-cuts-for-businesses
(4) RSPB [@Natures_Voice]. (2022) ???? As of last week, the UK Government has launched an attack on nature. We are angry and we are mobilising against these proposed plans. Please read this thread 1/7 ?? Available: https://twitter.com/Natures_Voice/status/1574456684210262024
(5) GOV.UK. (2022). Investment Zones in England: expression of interest. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investment-zones-in-england-expression-of-interest
(6) Wildlife Trust. (2022). Pursuing unsustainable development on some of our most important sites for nature must not be tolerated. Available: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/joan-edwards/unsustainable-development-important-sites
(7) Wildlife and Countryside Link. (2022). Open letter to PM on environmental deregulation. Available: https://www.wcl.org.uk/open-letter-to-pm-on-environmental-deregulation.asp
(8) Unchecked. (2022) Deregulation – What do British voters think? Available: https://unchecked.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Poll_Unchecked_Deregulation_03102022.pdf