Today the Government has published the first draft Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) under the new Nature Restoration Fund. The Norfolk EDP is intended to tackle nutrient pollution affecting the Broads and River Wensum, replacing site-by-site mitigation with a strategic approach in which developers pay a levy to fund larger-scale conservation measures, including river restoration, wetland creation, and management of fens and reedbeds.
The EDP is an important first test of the new system created by the Planning and Infrastructure Act. Wildlife and Countryside Link campaigned extensively during the passage of the legislation for stronger environmental safeguards. Following those efforts, the Government brought forward significant amendments to strengthen scientific evidence requirements, prioritise avoiding environmental harm, improve certainty over conservation outcomes, and increase transparency about when measures will be delivered.
Wildlife and Countryside Link is England’s largest environmental coalition, bringing together nearly 100 organisations to protect and restore nature.
Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“Environmental Delivery Plans are a calculated risk for nature, trading some of the certainty of site-by-site protection for the potential rewards of restoration at a much bigger scale. Defra must make sure the odds are stacked in nature’s favour, and this first plan will be an important test of whether the concept can work for nature and development. Done well, EDPs could pool developer contributions to restore whole landscapes rather than delivering fragmented mitigation, creating bigger and better-connected habitats and contributing to the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
“But the proof will be in the pudding. Natural England must have the resources, expertise and authority to make this new system deliver substantially more for nature than the development impacts it replaces. The upfront public funding for this first EDP is welcome, and that principle should continue for future plans so conservation can get ahead of development, rather than playing catch-up.
“There are important safeguards that must now be demonstrated in practice. The ‘overall improvement’ promised by every EDP must be based on the strongest possible objective scientific evidence, with measurable outcomes and transparent monitoring. Developer contributions must pay for additional restoration, not replace conservation action that others are already responsible for. EDPs must also work alongside stronger measures to prevent harm at source, including sustainable drainage and water efficiency in new developments. Ultimately, the test is what happens on the ground: environmental improvements must be secured and delivered quickly and visibly, not left as promises for some distant future.”
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