19 August 2025
Today the Government announced a new body to oversee the development of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), as well as a new Lead Environmental Regulator approach. Read more here: Environmental reforms to break planning system gridlock. These build on the recommendations made in the Corry Review, an independent review of regulators, in April.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“Extra environmental capacity for local authorities and clearer points of contact for big projects can help ensure a smoother planning system for nature and sustainable development. The lead regulator model could be a step forward if it ensures environmental duties are met from the very start. Problems arise when nature is treated as an afterthought, leaving costly disputes and poorer outcomes for wildlife. Protecting nature upfront is better for developers, better for communities, and essential for wildlife.
“The Government’s planning reforms can only succeed with a robust, science-led approach and significant investment in ambitious nature recovery projects from day one. Today’s £500m is a good starting point to get bigger, better, more joined-up nature recovery projects underway in advance of development. This must go beyond offsetting to help drive down pollution and restore wildlife. The Government now has the chance to prove that planning can be both pro-nature and pro-growth by restoring wildlife while delivering the low-carbon infrastructure society needs.”
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