A recent inquiry conducted by a cross-party committee of MPs has concluded that nature is not an obstacle to housing development, contrary to assertions made by government ministers. Toby Perkins, the Labour chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, emphasized that nature should not be seen as a hindrance but as an essential component for creating resilient communities.
The committee’s report challenges the viewpoint promoted by some UK government officials that environmental factors impede housing delivery. Instead, it identifies significant shortages in skills related to ecology, planning, and construction as the primary barriers to achieving the government’s goal of constructing 1.5 million homes by the end of the current Parliament. Perkins stated that balancing this housing target with existing environmental and sustainability regulations will require unprecedented effort.
Additionally, the report raises concerns about pending legislation that would allow developers to circumvent environmental assessments by contributing to a centralized nature recovery fund, which aims to enhance ecological sites elsewhere. Critics, including ecologists, environmental advocates, and some MPs, are advocating for amendments to the legislation to preserve protections for wildlife and rare habitats. Housing Secretary Steve Reed has urged MPs to reject these proposed changes.
The committee has expressed worry that such legislation, if enacted as it stands, would hinder the government’s ability to meet its legally mandated targets for halting biodiversity decline by 2030 and reversing it by 2042. They found that local planning authorities lack sufficient ecological expertise, with officials from Natural England reporting being heavily stretched. Under the proposed changes, Natural England will gain oversight of the national nature restoration fund, funded by developers, which might conflict with its regulatory responsibilities concerning environmental standards.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/16/nature-not-blocker-housing-growth-inquiry