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The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust has called for 'ambition and clarity' from the Government after welcoming the commitments to nature outlined in the King’s Speech 2024.
The Trust was responding after the new Government underlined its “unwavering” commitment to the environment as part of the promised Planning Bill, which aims to address the housing crisis through planning reform and accelerated housebuilding.
Debbie Tann MBE, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said:
“We welcome the new Government's commitment to environmental protection as part of planning reform. We recognise the need to tackle the housing crisis.
"But it is vital that development does not compromise the health of our natural environment or legal targets for nature’s recovery.
“As a Trust that works in partnership with local councils and developers to ensure nature’s recovery is a primary consideration, we have seen there is a robust economic case for ensuring that new housing projects enhance nature."
The Trust has called on the new Government to retain the crucial Nutrient Neutrality rules which protect our waterways from further nutrient pollution as a result of new developments, while enabling investment in nature-based solutions which are an important tool for tackling the water quality crisis across the country.
Debbie Tann MBE added:
“Through our Nutrient Neutrality schemes, we have already proven a cost-effective way to unlock housebuilding while also mitigating the environmental impact of new developments – and those methods have the added benefit of helping people, communities and nature too.
"We call on the new Government to provide assurances that those rules will remain in place."