Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect the countryside and wildlife, in the context of her Department's proposed planning reforms.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services. Development is restricted on sites which are designated for environmental or amenity value as well as National Landscapes.

The revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024 sets out that we expect developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species. The government will consult on future changes to national planning policy, including a set of national policies for decision making in Spring 2025.