Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Plymouth City Council removing 100 trees from Armada Way on her Department's tree planting policies.

We want to see more trees in our urban spaces, not less, and that is why we have legislated a statutory tree and woodland target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover of England to 16.5% by 2050. This includes individual trees outside woodlands. The Environment Act requires new developments and infrastructure projects to achieve at least a 10% measurable biodiversity net gain ensuring that nature will be retained and enhanced in the built environment. This year (2022/23) £5.4 million has been made available through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund to support the planting and maintenance of trees in urban areas. It is for the local planning authority to consider any development proposals on their individual merits and to decide on the appropriate route to granting planning permission where that is required.