The Planning and Infrastructure Act (2025) is set to be updated, with significant updates due to be rolled out later this year. The act itself covers many aspects of the planning process with the goal of boosting the economy through reaching the government’s ambitious development targets and on a personal level, I’m really looking forward to finding out how it is impacting the other disciplines within the company.
To give a very brief overview of what may (or may not) be changing within ecology, the act is attempting to reduce reliance on species specific surveys (otherwise known as Phase 2 Surveys) in favour of a more strategic and holistic approach. This will be done through the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans and the creation of a Nature Restoration Fund.
The assumption within the industry is that there will be a reliance on county species records to inform these Environmental Delivery Plans with surveys focused on locality as opposed to being site specific. Environmental Delivery Plans are broad in scope and a large cause for uncertainty, but are expected to cover either specific species over large areas or be created to cover entire projects. Where an Environmental Delivery Plan is in place, the developer will be able to pay into the Nature Restoration Fund to either completely avoid or limit the need for mitigation on site. To date, 23 Environmental Delivery Plans have been commissioned, with 16 covering Nutrient Neutrality and 7 covering Great Crested Newts. In reality, these will function similar to District Level Licensing, which is already in place for Great Crested Newts in many parts of the UK, where payment for the scheme is secured by planning condition.
Whilst simple in concept, the variables in what an Environmental Delivery Plan could cover, where one might be in place or potential cost / benefits of using one means there are a lot of unknowns and wrinkles to be ironed out over the coming year. Currently, Natural England will be responsible for managing the Nature Recovery Fund and will be responsible for ensuring the money is spent responsibly. Ultimately, this represents opportunities for landowners with so-called Nature Capital Assets, such as woodlands or ponds that can be enhanced through the Nature Restoration Fund.
With the anticipated changes from the Planning and Infrastructure Act it has never been more important to get ecological input early into a project, which is a huge benefit to our clients at a multidisciplinary firm, here atEnzygo. As with BNG, it is expected that the changes will take time to implement, potentially years, needing at least two further pieces of legislation to fully integrate into the planning process. Our ecology team has been making sure to keep up to date with the Act, including any changes that are planned, in order to be in the best position to help clients navigate this particularly complex legislation, as it is rolled out throughout the year.
If you would like advice on the consultation, or to discuss how our multidisciplinary planning and environmental team can support your projects in light of these changes, please get in touch, as it is clear that now is the time to bring forward your development proposals.
Get in touch with Sam White for expert Ecology advice and support: Sam.white@enzygo.com