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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of nature based solutions, including beaver-led wetland restoration, in reducing storm flows and improving drought resilience.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of nature based solutions, including beaver-led wetland restoration, in reducing storm flows and improving drought resilience.
The Government supports nature‑based solutions, such as beaver‑led wetland restoration, to sustainably address environmental challenges and improve flood and drought resilience for nature and society.
The Government’s new flood funding policy, and the Environment Agency’s Position Statement and guidance, reinforce the Government’s commitment to working with nature alongside traditional infrastructure, with investment in flood risk management supporting opportunities likely to deliver the greatest benefits.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what measures the Government is considering to lower the cost of building new properties in marsh land areas in order to ensure they can be competitive in low value areas.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what measures the Government is considering to lower the cost of building new properties in marsh land areas in order to ensure they can be competitive in low value areas.
The government has no current plans to directly intervene to lower the cost of building new properties in marsh land areas.
We are taking decisive action across a wide range of areas to support housebuilding across the country, including in lower value areas.
The Brownfield Land Release Fund provides funding to local planning authorities to help address market failures and viability gaps on small to medium sized brownfield sites.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific evidence Natural England is using to determine whether a development has a potential hydrological impacts on hydrologically dependent Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including wetlands such as Wolborough Fen.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific evidence Natural England is using to determine whether a development has a potential hydrological impacts on hydrologically dependent Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including wetlands such as Wolborough Fen.
Natural England assesses all available information on both impacts and mitigation and uses professional judgement and scientific expertise to provide advice to decision-makers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what monitoring requirements are required for developments located near hydrologically sensitive wetlands.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what monitoring requirements are required for developments located near hydrologically sensitive wetlands.
Any monitoring requirement would depend on the nature of both the development and the wetland’s protected status.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment Natural England has made of hydrological impacts on wetland Sites of Special Scientific Interest being mitigated through post‑construction monitoring or compensation measures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment Natural England has made of hydrological impacts on wetland Sites of Special Scientific Interest being mitigated through post‑construction monitoring or compensation measures.
Post-construction monitoring or compensation measures are secured by the local planning authority through mechanisms such as conditions. Natural England has a programme of SSSI monitoring through feature assessments and the results are available on Designated Sites View.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask the Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what guidance her Department issues to Natural England on assessing hydrological risks to wetland Sites of Special Scientific...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask the Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what guidance her Department issues to Natural England on assessing hydrological risks to wetland Sites of Special Scientific...
This is determined by various legislation and the National Planning Policy Framework.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what national policy framework governs the protection of hydrologically sensitive Sites of Special Scientific Interest where Environmental Delivery Plans are not in place.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what national policy framework governs the protection of hydrologically sensitive Sites of Special Scientific Interest where Environmental Delivery Plans are not in place.
The protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including those that are hydrologically sensitive is governed principally by section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and paragraph 193(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of whether existing policy guidance provides Natural England with sufficient powers to prevent cumulative ecological impacts on protected wetlands arising from strategic housing allocations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of whether existing policy guidance provides Natural England with sufficient powers to prevent cumulative ecological impacts on protected wetlands arising from strategic housing allocations.
Defra’s Regulatory Landscape Review, led by Dan Corry, was published in April 2025. As part of our work to implement its recommendations, we will soon publish Strategic Policy Statements for Natural England and the Environment Agency. These will set out expectations for their contribution towards our growth mission, particularly around reaching our ambitious homebuilding targets and fast-tracking major infrastructure projects.
The Corry review and the 2025 Post-Implementation Review of the Habitats Regulations both concluded that improvements could be made to the functioning of the Habitats Regulations. We are working with stakeholders to improve guidance on Habitats Regulations Assessments, including clarifying the respective roles of Natural England as a statutory consultee and planning authorities as decision makers on planning applications.
Natural England is a statutory consultee on planning applications and offers advice and guidance to planning authorities, but planning authorities are ultimately responsible for planning decisions, including imposing planning conditions where necessary to make development acceptable. The National Planning Policy Framework reinforces statutory protections, including by setting out how planning conditions should be used.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of growing water reed for the purposes of thatching materials within the Great Fen project.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of growing water reed for the purposes of thatching materials within the Great Fen project.
Defra, Natural England, and Environment Agency are working closely with our Great Fen partners to look at the benefits of paludiculture (wetter farming) and trialling a range of diversification options. This is vital to enable thriving and sustainable rural businesses, protection of our precious lowland peat resources, and enhance biodiversity. The Great Fen provides opportunity to act to test these principles, and will be looking at the benefits of growing reed and a host of other crop types for food and fibre.
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of (1) national nature reserves, (2) marine conservation zones, (3) special protection areas, and (4) Ramsar sites, are in a favourable condition in each county in England.
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of (1) national nature reserves, (2) marine conservation zones, (3) special protection areas, and (4) Ramsar sites, are in a favourable condition in each county in England.
Data on National Nature Reserves, terrestrial Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and Ramsar sites is included in the spreadsheet attached. Due to terrestrial SPAs being considered at low-tide there is an overlap between these reported figures and the SPAs with marine components.
Data on SPAs with marine components and on Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) is collected at feature level rather than by county, as the majority of sites are at sea and therefore often fall outside county jurisdiction. Within English waters, there are 89 MCZs (excluding HPMAs) covering 625 features, and 49 marine SPAs covering 208 features. The latest data from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee indicates that 64.8% of English MCZs features and 19.7% of English marine SPA features are considered to be in favourable condition.
This POSTnote summarises the challenges and options for reducing nutrient pollution in river catchments currently subject to 'nutrient neutrality' planning advice
This POSTnote summarises the challenges and options for reducing nutrient pollution in river catchments currently subject to 'nutrient neutrality' planning advice
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help maintain the Fens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help maintain the Fens.
Over 600,000 people live in the Fens, the region generates over £58 billion of benefits. Sustaining the system is getting more challenging in the face of a changing climate.
Through Fens 2100+ the Environment Agency (EA) aims to transform how it maintains its assets and invest in flood and coastal resilience.
The EA has invested £7.6m million in asset maintenance in 25-26 but is aware that a long-term investment plan is needed to ensure the Fens continues to thrive.
In Spring 2026, Fens 2100+ will be launching a strategic case and 15-point Partnership action plan for continued investment and maintenance in the Fens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of adding Ramsar sites to the Habitats Regulation rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of adding Ramsar sites to the Habitats Regulation rules.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Convention on Wetlands. Most Ramsar sites are also already designated as Habitats Sites or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and so subject to strict protections. However, in view of our international commitments as signatories to the Convention, it is Government policy that all Ramsar sites are afforded protection under the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) process as a matter of policy.
The statutory recognition of Ramsar sites through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will formalise existing practice, reducing ambiguity and potential legal risk, and providing greater clarity and certainty for developers. Adding Ramsar sites to the Habitats Regulation also enables Ramsar sites, and development that impacts upon these sites, to benefit from the new Nature Restoration Fund model, supporting both nature recovery and sustainable development.
I thank the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, for those kind comments about my noble friend Lady Hayman. She was here earlier this evening, but it was not fair to keep her here when she is still recovering from quite a nasty bug.
I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Rock,...
I thank the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, for those kind comments about my noble friend Lady Hayman. She was here earlier this evening, but it was not fair to keep her here when she is still recovering from quite a nasty bug.
I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Rock,...
My Lords, I am grateful for that very interesting debate on a wide-ranging set of issues in the Bill. There are a number of amendments in this group relating to compulsory purchase. I understand noble Lords’ concerns about that subject as well as the other issues raised in this group....
My Lords, I am grateful for that very interesting debate on a wide-ranging set of issues in the Bill. There are a number of amendments in this group relating to compulsory purchase. I understand noble Lords’ concerns about that subject as well as the other issues raised in this group....
These reviews take years and years, but this is a clear and present danger now. Therefore, before the Minister sits down, will she agree to meet with me and the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss what can be done in this Bill to protect tenant farmers immediately, rather than waiting...
These reviews take years and years, but this is a clear and present danger now. Therefore, before the Minister sits down, will she agree to meet with me and the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss what can be done in this Bill to protect tenant farmers immediately, rather than waiting...
I genuinely do not believe that this Bill is the place to deal with this, but I am very happy to meet with the noble Baroness, and I am sure that my noble friend Lady Hayman would be prepared to meet as well. Within Defra, there may be more scope...
I genuinely do not believe that this Bill is the place to deal with this, but I am very happy to meet with the noble Baroness, and I am sure that my noble friend Lady Hayman would be prepared to meet as well. Within Defra, there may be more scope...
I am very grateful to the Minister for her response. As I said, I am disappointed. This is absolutely the right place to address these issues around tenant farmers. I have given very clear examples of why these amendments sit firmly in government policy and are desperately required. I look...
I am very grateful to the Minister for her response. As I said, I am disappointed. This is absolutely the right place to address these issues around tenant farmers. I have given very clear examples of why these amendments sit firmly in government policy and are desperately required. I look...
Moved by
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
254: Clause 111, page 157, line 13, at end insert—
“(ca) section (Wind generating stations that may affect seismic array systems);”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment would provide for my new clause entitled “Wind generating stations that may affect seismic array systems” to extend to England and Wales and...
Moved by
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
254: Clause 111, page 157, line 13, at end insert—
“(ca) section (Wind generating stations that may affect seismic array systems);”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment would provide for my new clause entitled “Wind generating stations that may affect seismic array systems” to extend to England and Wales and...
Moved by
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
256: Clause 112, page 157, line 23, leave out paragraph (a) and insert—
“(a) sections 1 and 2 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint;
(aa) section (Projects relating to water) comes into force on the day on which this...
Moved by
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
256: Clause 112, page 157, line 23, leave out paragraph (a) and insert—
“(a) sections 1 and 2 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint;
(aa) section (Projects relating to water) comes into force on the day on which this...