Overview
- In a report published Sunday, MPs say the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not meet legally binding nature targets alongside the pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes.
- The committee concludes shortages in ecological, planning and construction expertise, plus under-resourced agencies, are the real obstacles to housebuilding.
- Provisions to let developers pay into a national Nature Restoration Fund instead of undertaking some site-level surveys and mitigation draw warnings of weakened protections.
- Natural England would oversee the developer-funded scheme despite staff being described as stretched, prompting concerns over capacity and potential conflicts of interest.
- Ministers defend the reforms and note acceptance of limited amendments, including on large water projects and EV‑charger accessibility, but MPs say these do not address core risks.