Government accused of 'digging graves for wildlife' in landmark new planning bill

The UK government has been called out by wildlife experts regarding its new Bill proposal which aims to 'speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure'. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has already been debated by MPs, it has moved to the House of Lords and passed through the House of Commons, but wildlife experts have said it's not too late to 'stand up for nature' and speak out against this 'disastrous' bill.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill is 'central to the government's plan to get Britain building again and deliver economic growth', but organisation The Wildlife Trusts have said the Government is 'digging graves for wildlife'. Highlighting the proposed bill and its effects on social media campaigners Protect the Wild said 'we simply cannot let this happen and watch on as nature and wildlife is destroyed and decimated'. The bill would see reduced Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for small and medium building developments rolled out across England - and this makes up 'over 70% of all housing developments'.

Joan Edwards OBE, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts said: "This is bad news for nature and communities - it is yet another appalling example of the Government breaking its promise to put nature at the heart of housebuilding.

"Building developments can have a huge impact on wildlife and it's only fair they should make up for this by increasing natural habitats on-site or nearby.

"The UK Government's proposal to exempt small developments from delivering Biodiversity Net Gain and contributing towards nature recovery fails to recognise the significant cumulative impacts such development can have."

Joan Edwards went on to say that 'small, urban wild places have tangible benefits for society including clean air, flood prevention and the cheerful song of the blackbird', she described the importance of these natural greenspaces for residents.

She added that 'Biodiversity Net Gain can help development to protect these valued spaces in the first place' by creating and enhancing areas for wildlife and in turn, benefiting nearby communities.

Joan described Labour's announcement (in March 2025) as 'grim', the bill is currently at the committee stage - and those who care for nature are being encouraged to contact their MP before the bill heads to the final reading.

The bill currently 'fails to recognise the magnitude of the nature crisis' Joan from The Wildlife Trusts said, adding that it could 'increase nature losses and cut wider public benefits in order to maximise profit for a few'.

The Government said it 'backs SME builders to get Britain building' and that smaller housebuilders would benefit from 'simpler rules with new reforms across land, regulation and finance'.

In a press release last month the Government said: "The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is central to the government's plan to get Britain building again and deliver economic growth.

"The Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, supporting delivery of the government's Plan for Change milestones of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England and fast-tracking 150 planning decisions on major economic infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament."

However, nature campaigners Protect the Wild have pleaded with people across the country to 'contact your MP urgently and ask them to stand up for nature and speak out against this disastrous bill'.

Protect the Wild have shared posts on social media saying the bill could enable developers to 'bulldoze habitats, skip wildlife checks and even kill badgers for housing projects' - and on one historic wetlands site in Devon, bulldozers are said to be 'lurking at the gates'.

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) have shared fears for nature rich site Wolborough Fen in Newton Abbot, Devon and DWT has said 'a breach of planning control' was underway last week.

The development plan for Wolborough Fen (a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) is said to be included in the government's 'new homes accelerator programme' - and is now getting 1,200 houses.

Developers on site at Wolborough Fen reportedly said 'conditions to protect it were blocking the growth the government is demanding' according to a recent article by The Guardian.