Scrapping consultation for major infrastructure could harm wildlife and add to planning delays

23 April 2025

Today the UK Government has announced that it is removing the requirement for statutory consultation in the pre-application period for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), like roads, rai and energy projects. 

The pre-application phase is the only formal window for early input on how a proposed project could affect the natural environment before a full application is submitted. The Preliminary Environmental Information Report produced at this stage is an important way to uncover and communicate a project’s potential effects on nature. Without this early input from experts, development could result in environmental damage, expensive redesigns, or last-minute mitigation that is poorly integrated and ineffective.  

Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: "Consultation isn't red tape, it's smart planning. Early consultation with communities and experts can reveal vital details about the local environment, improving collaboration and helping reduce harm to wildlife. Scrapping the rules will make it even harder for organisations like Natural England to ensure their scientific advice is heard, and increase delays and conflict later in the planning process. This decision puts wildlife at risk and makes the Planning Bill even more of a threat to the future of nature." 

The committee stage for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is scheduled to commence tomorrow on 24th April 2025 and is expected to conclude by 22nd May 2025. Earlier this month over 30 environmental groups including the National Trust, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts wrote to Secretary of State Steve Reed and Minister Mathew Pennycook calling for the government to fix the proposed Planning Bill to ensure that it does not undo existing environmental law and further threaten nature. In their Wilder By Design campaign they charities have called on the government to make sure Planning Proposals: 

- Prioritise Avoiding Harm: Developers must first avoid environmental damage before relying on Environmental Delivery Partnerships (EDPs), maintaining the long-standing “mitigation hierarchy”. 

- Base Decisions on Science: New protected features should only be added when clear scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of strategic approaches. 

- Guarantee Upfront Benefits: Environmental improvements must be delivered upfront, especially for irreplaceable or significant damage, with a clear and transparent improvement plan. 

- Ensure Net Gain for Nature: Strengthen the improvement test to require definite, measurable, and significant benefits, rather than just probable improvements.