U-turn on Planning Bill and what it means for your project

Amidst mounting pressure from environmentalist pressure groups, the government has quietly made changes to a major section of its Planning Bill.

The new changes will impact the nature protections, especially in greenbelt areas, and introduce new conditions around development timelines.

So how will it affect you and your upcoming project?

Are you looking at embarking on a self build or renovation project in the near future? If so, these changes could impact how and when you can get started, especially when it comes to gaining planning permission.

Conservation plans needed upfront

The revisions to the law will mean that developers will need to set out clearly how they will be implementing any conservation measures.

This will be done through detailed Environmental Delivery Plans which will need to have a clear timeline to indicate when plans will be put into place.

The government’s amendment summary states Environmental Delivery Plans.

It states: “Set out the anticipated sequencing of the implementation of conservation measures – with specific reference to the timing of the development coming forward.”

Therefore, any protection for habitat needs to be place before construction begins.

So, if you’re building or renovating on greenbelt land or known wildlife habitats, early planning for that is a must.

The idea is that mitigation measures are locked in as part of any project before work begins – limiting permanent damage to the countryside.

What does this mean for my project?

If you’re building near the green belt, this could add another layer of issue to your project.

You’ll need to consider what conservation measures you’ll need to continue with your build or renovation – for example, things like pond restoration, woodland protection or habitat buffers.

These could become legal preconditions to be able to get started on your project in the near future, otherwise you could be suffering with lengthy delays or worse, not getting planning permission for the project at all.

The amendments to the planning bill state that “Upfront conservation measures may be necessary in instances where a habitat or species is rare or fragile, requiring immediate action.”

It goes on to say that this needs to happen before development that might have an impact on it can be approved.

This means it’s essential to consider the environmental considerations of your project.

It’s especially the case if you’re project is on the green belt or near a wildlife habitat.

The shift means that instead of it being something to consider after getting planning permission, it’s now something that could be the decider as to whether or not you can obtain planning permission at all.

How can I make sure this doesn’t impact my project?

You’ll need to look at your project timelines, and prioritise additional surveys or habitat works before any foundations are made.

You could also hire an ecologist to help you analyse the land and help you to come up with relevant Environmental Delivery Plans.