Can building 1.5 million homes support UK nature and climate goals? EAC’s launches inquiry as it holds first evidence session of the new Parliament
18 November 2024
The environmental impact of planning reforms needed to meet the Government’s housebuilding targets will be examined by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) as it launches its first inquiry of the new Parliament, ‘Environmental sustainability and housing growth’.
- Watch on Parliament TV:National Planning Policy Framework reforms and the environment
- Submit evidence: Environmental sustainability and housing growth
- Environmental Audit Committee
An early pledge for the new Government was its stated ambition to build 1.5 million homes in England over the next five years. As part of the commitment, the Government has proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in order to release more land for development: these changes were subject to consultation over the summer. Published responses to the consultation have questioned whether the proposed reforms can maintain current levels of environmental protection.
In its new inquiry the Committee is seeking views on the nature and climate implications of the planning reforms. From protection and enhancement of the environment to promotion of active travel, reduction of embodied carbon levels and implementation of local nature recovery networks, the wide-ranging terms of reference seek to deliver a comprehensive overview of how the proposed planning reforms can deliver housing growth while maintaining protection of the environment.
An evidence session will be held on Wednesday 20 November to serve as an introductory session to some aspects of the full inquiry, considering the extent to which the Government has already taken into account environmental implications of the reforms.
Witnesses
From 2.30pm:
- Professor Alister Scott, Professor of Environmental Geography and Planning, Northumbria University
- Anthony Breach, Associate Director, Centre for Cities
- Sophie O’Connell, senior policy adviser, Green Alliance
From 3.30pm:
- Cllr Richard Wright, Leader, North Kesteven District Council, and planning spokesperson, District Councils’ Network
- Dr Hugh Ellis, Director of Policy, Town and Country Planning Association
- Sam Stafford, Planning Director, Home Builders Federation
Chair comment
Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Toby Perkins MP, said:
“Britain has a housing crisis, a climate crisis and a nature crisis. All three must be tackled in tandem and addressing one must not be at the expense of another. The Government’s ambitious target to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years – 300,000 a year – is significant and we must ensure that climate and nature protections underpin any such reforms to our planning system.
“Conscious that changes to the National Planning Policy Framework have already been proposed, the Committee is prioritising this area as our first inquiry. We will be examining whether environmental protections are being sufficiently considered in the reforms, and if not, what the Committee can recommend to Government to ensure that they are.”
Further information
Image: Pexels