Planning and Infrastructure Bill receives Royal Assent

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has become law.

Communities and nature across England will benefit from improved environmental outcomes and faster delivery of homes through.

The fund will offer an alternative to the current system, which the government says has blocked houses being built, whilst nature still declines.

The government has published an Implementation Plan, which sets out the pathway to rolling out the Nature Restoration Fund, which will result in the delivery of the first Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) in 2026.

Under the new approach, Natural England will work with public bodies, environmental organisations, private markets and developers to create an EDP for specific areas, outlining conservation measures that address impacts of development on protected sites and species.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “We are changing the broken planning system to ensure that we can deliver new homes and infrastructure while protecting and restoring nature. 

“The Nature Restoration Fund will help restore our most treasured protected habitats and species whilst building the homes Britain needs.” 

Chief executive of Natural England Marian Spain said: “The Planning and Infrastructure Bill becoming law gives us the opportunity to build the homes and infrastructure our country needs while driving nature’s recovery.

“Thriving nature is essential for our nation’s growth, health and security. Through the Nature Restoration Fund, we can deliver new homes and make it easier for developers to meet their obligations to protect sites and species by investing at scale in nature’s recovery and restoring the natural systems that underpin our prosperity and protect our wellbeing.

“Natural England is now working at pace with the many people we need to make this happen and have the first Environmental Delivery Plans ready for next summer.”