Written question asked by Chris Hinchliff (Labour) on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environmental Delivery Plans

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the evidential basis for determining that there is a clear need for Environmental Delivery Plans; whether that evidence will be published; and what assessment she has made of the value for money of Environmental Delivery Plans.

Answer: The NRF will focus on enabling development in areas where it has stalled due to specific environmental obligations. The first EDPs will focus on nutrient neutrality, which currently affects approximately 8% of housing. The Planning and Infrastructure Act requires that EDPs must include monitoring measures sufficient to track the effectiveness of conservation measures and the effect of the EDP in general. These reporting requirements will provide transparency around the environmental improvements that each EDP has delivered and whether they represent good value for money.

Secondary information