The government is set to delay a biodiversity net gain law which campaigners have called a “hammer blow” for nature.
The law, set to come into place within England’s planning system in November, would state that developers can’t destroy local nature and development has to give extra provisions for nature.
Developers would also be required to attain a 10% biodiversity net gain on all substantial domestic, commercial, and mixed-use properties.
However, government sources told the BBC the biodiversity net gain law will not be introduced this year.
Wildlife Trust head of land use planning Sue Young said: “Attempts to delay or weaken rules for biodiversity net gain would deliver yet another hammer blow for nature from the current UK government.”
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The delay comes a week after the Build Environment Committee told the government to “get a grip on the haphazard implementation of environmental regulations.”
The statement came after a new House of Lords report show that there is a “real risk” the government will miss its housing targets and its environmental ambitions.
UK Green Building Council public affairs and policy advisor Philip Box said: “Businesses from across the industry and our membership have raised concerns regarding any potential delay.
“This would be exceptionally damaging for them in terms of projected work pipelines, investment, supply chains, and related job roles.”
Labour party shadow levelling up minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Yet more uncertainty and disruption for housebuilders and councils as biodiversity net gain is pushed back to an unspecified date.”
“Ministers have got to resolve the utter dysfunction that defines the government’s approach to housing and the environment,” Pennycook added.
