Habitats and environmental regulations to be reviewed as part of plans to “cut costly red tape”, Government says
A new streamlined process for environmental regulations will be implemented for major projects and habitats regulations concerning bats are to be reviewed, the Government has said.
The news comes as part of plans to overhaul the regulatory system, cut red tape and boost infrastructure building announced by the Treasury today (17 March).
In a policy paper, the Government said it aims to tackle complexity and the burden of regulation, reduce uncertainty across the regulatory system, and challenge and shift excessive risk aversion in the system.
The Treasury described the measures as a "radical shakeup", adding that they will: "Cut costly red tape that fails to deliver for local communities, such as hundreds of pages of guidance on protecting bat habitats – which goes far beyond legal requirements, needlessly costs businesses money and slows down planning decisions for major infrastructure projects".
The statement said it "should not be the case that to convert a garage or outbuilding you need to wade through hundreds of pages of guidance on bats".
It noted that environmental guidance - including on protecting bats - will be looked at afresh and that Natural England has agreed to review and update its advice to local planning authorities on bats to ensure there is clear, proportionate and accessible advice available.
A "streamlined" process for environmental regulations will also be put in place for major projects.
The new system will require just one point of contact, ending the need for developers to seek planning approvals from multiple authorities.
According to the statement, the changes will also streamline regulators' core legal duties.
The Treasury also aims to make it "simpler and faster" for projects to agree environmental permits and, in some cases, is looking to remove the permits altogether.
Combined with the appointment of a single lead environmental regulator, this will speed up approvals and save businesses millions in time and resources, the Treasury claimed.
The Government will also consult on allowing regulators to be more agile in making decisions on which low-risk activities should be exempt from environmental permits.
This will allow them to focus on high-impact, high-priority areas, such as low-carbon infrastructure - while ensuring nature protections are not weakened, the statement added.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: "The world is changing and that's why we must go further and faster to deliver on our Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.
"Today we are taking further action to free businesses from the shackles of regulation. By cutting red tape and creating a more effective system, we will boost investment, create jobs and put more money into working people's pockets."
Adam Carey
