This Government has repeatedly said we need a ‘win-win’ reform to planning that would unlock new homes and halt nature’s decline. The Wildlife Trusts agrees with them. We’ve worked tirelessly to advise the Government on how a more strategic approach to accelerating development alongside achieving nature’s recovery could work.

Now – in common with the wider conservation movement - we feel betrayed. The Planning & Infrastructure Bill this Government has proposed to Parliament is missing vital safeguards for nature. As it stands, the Bill risks accelerating, rather than halting, nature’s decline. The Office for Environmental Protection – the Government’s official watchdog – agrees: “In our considered view, the bill would have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by existing environmental law. As drafted, the provisions are a regression.”

The Bill risks sacrificing irreplaceable habitat, like Wiltshire’s precious chalkstreams and ancient woodlands, which cannot be simply ‘offset’ with brand new wetlands or tree planting projects. And it leaves nature restoration as a ‘follow-on’ promise rather than an upfront pre-condition of development. Too often, developers’ promises for nature never materialise – a recent study by Sheffield University across 5 counties found only 53% of commitments ever got delivered, setting nature up for further decline.

It's not too late to put in place vital legal safeguards for Nature, but we need your support for some crucial amendments we are helping MPs to table.

Please co-sign this open letter to Secretary of State Angela Rayner, which The Wildlife Trusts will be delivering on 20 May.

I’ll be joining a cross-party group of MPs in Parliament on 4 June to champion the amendment tabled by Chris Hinchliff MP in support of our Save Our Chalkstreams campaign, to give chalkstreams the bespoke legal protection they deserve.

Thank you for all your support,

Jo Lewis

CEO, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust