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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of giving Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies a statutory duty to consider (a) net zero and (b) the delivery of the Clean Power Mission when providing advice on applications for renewable energy infrastructure projects to (i) developers and (ii) competent authorities.

Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) under Defra’s purview include Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). Remits differ with Natural England advising developers and competent authorities on environmental assessments and certain planning applications related to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and best and most versatile agricultural land; and JNCC focusing on nature conservation in the marine environment.

These statutory remits ensure development, including renewable energy infrastructure projects, contribute to net zero and clean power goals, and enable development to progress with a full understanding of impacts. Furthermore, Natural England’s aims, as set out in their Strategy, are in support of the 25 Year Environment Plan and government’s net zero commitments, and they have a priority action for 24/25 to help align Local Nature Recovery Strategies with other local spatial plans including net zero.