Nature and urban planning: NGO appeal to the UK government

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Leading UK NGOs, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the National Trust, are pressing the UK government to stop the 'demonisation of nature' in urban planning policies. According to these organisations, the approach taken by politicians such as Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer, who have labelled environmentalists as 'obstacles' to growth, is in clear contradiction to public opinion. A YouGov poll, commissioned by the NGOs themselves, revealed that 71% of respondents support the idea of stronger laws to protect green and blue spaces such as parks, rivers and lakes. "Nature is the foundation on which to build growth, not an obstacle, said Matt Browne of the Wildlife Trusts, emphasising that environmental protection must be seen as a key resource for the future.

NGOs call for changes to the 'Planning and Infrastructure Bill' to prevent nature from being sacrificed in favour of urban development. In particular, they call for the introduction of stricter regulations to ensure that the environmental benefits far outweigh the damage from construction. In addition, they propose the introduction of a legal obligation to prevent irreparable damage to protected fauna, such as otters and badgers, endangered species that risk disappearing without adequate protection. According to Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, changing laws on urban planning could undermine the very foundations of environmental legislation in England. To rebuild trust between government and environmental organisations, it is essential that the executive quickly revises the law, strengthening protections for the most vulnerable wildlife.

The government proposes to replace the current environmental assessment system with a new natural restoration fund, with the aim of stimulating economic growth and housing construction. However, many leading environmental organisations fear that this could lead to builders increasing environmental regulations by paying a tax to 'compensate' for the damage caused by their constructions. According to critics, this approach could be seen as an inversion of the 'polluter pays' principle, replacing it with a system that allows polluting by paying, without adequately addressing environmental protection issues. Hilary McGrady, CEO of the National Trust, said that while recognising the need to review regulations to facilitate the construction of new housing, the importance of protecting local wildlife and biodiversity cannot be underestimated.

The British government defends the 'Planning and Infrastructure Bill' as a necessary measure to stimulate economic growth and solve the housing shortage, aiming to build 1.5 million homes by the end of the parliamentary term. According to a government spokesperson, the new urban planning rules will cut red tape, speeding up the construction of homes and infrastructure, while maintaining a focus on environmental protection. However, the government is aware of the concerns raised by NGOs and has stated that balancing development with nature protection is essential for the country's future. Environmental organisations will continue to lobby, demanding significant changes to the bill, so that urban planning does not jeopardise the biodiversity and the UK's most precious natural territories.

This article has been realised within the project "Biodiversity services EU expansion" (CUP: E43D22000480009) in the framework of the Lombardy Region's call for tenders "PR FESR 2021-2027 - LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27", aimed at supporting the internationalisation of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customised climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With an established portfolio in Italy, Germany and France and prominent partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create real impact through technology.