A cross-party group of MPs has issued a stark warning that the Government's landmark housing and environmental goals are in serious jeopardy due to its current planning reforms.
Planning Bill Falls Short on Dual Targets
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has found that the measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, now in its final parliamentary stages, are insufficient to meet either the pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament or the UK's legally binding nature commitments.
In a report published on Sunday 16 November 2025, the committee challenged the government's narrative, arguing that nature is not a "blocker" to housebuilding but a fundamental necessity for creating resilient, liveable communities.
Skills Shortage and Flawed Solutions
The report identifies a critical skills shortage in ecology, planning, and construction as a major obstacle. It warns that without urgent action to address this, the government's ambitious housebuilding goal will be missed.
The proposed Bill overrides existing habitat protections, a move ministers have argued is necessary to unblock development. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have previously criticised rules they deem excessive, such as the £100 million bat tunnel for the HS2 railway.
Instead of direct protection, the legislation would allow developers to make general environmental improvements or pay into a Nature Restoration Fund to enhance habitats elsewhere.
"Nature is Not the Enemy"
Toby Perkins, the EAC chairman, stated: "The Government’s target to build 1.5 million homes... is incredibly ambitious. Achieving it alongside our existing targets on climate and sustainability... will require effort on a scale not seen before."
He emphatically rejected the scapegoating of nature, adding: "We are clear in our report: a healthy environment is essential to building resilient towns and cities. It must not be sidelined... Some major changes might be needed, but nature is not the enemy."
The committee's recommendations include boosting the manufacturing of green construction products and altering the tax system to support eco-friendly homes. While the EAC welcomed some government amendments, such as classifying large water projects as nationally significant, it concluded these steps are not enough on their own.
The report cautioned that viewing nature as an inconvenience could lead to the degradation of the natural world and a failure to meet climate targets. A Government spokesperson defended the reforms, stating they would create a "win-win for the economy and the environment" and restore the dream of homeownership.
