Labour has watered down its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, putting new housebuilding – and Britain’s growth prospects – at risk, writes Will Prescott

The Starmer Government often boasts that it is on the side of the “builders not the blockers”. Unfortunately, the recent watering down of its key Planning and Infrastructure Bill risks calling that claim into question.

Under Part III of the Bill, as originally drafted, developers would have paid into a Nature Restoration Fund. These funds would be spent according to Environmental Development Plans (EDPs) drawn up by Natural England, which would outline the conservation steps necessary to offset any environmental damage caused by the development. The EDPs could cover several developments at once, allowing for a more holistic approach to nature protection.

Crucially, the proposals would have allowed most development to go ahead before specific mitigations had been detailed. This would simplify the existing regime, which typically requires developers to demonstrate how they will offset environmental harm to the specific construction sites. This not only creates unnecessary paperwork – one........

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