Two of the UK’s largest conservation charities, the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts, have issued a stark warning that the UK Government’s “Build Baby Build” agenda is creating a perfect storm for nature, putting wildlife and habitats at risk. The organisations stress that this approach runs counter to widespread public support for protecting the natural environment, which is currently at an all-time high. They argue that recent government actions and proposals threaten to reverse progress made under the Environment Act, which was passed four years ago to embed nature recovery into development.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, now in its final stages, lacks essential safeguards for wildlife and habitats. Meanwhile, potential changes to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules, such as exempting small development sites, could undermine a nascent market designed to promote nature restoration. These moves come alongside reports that the upcoming budget may introduce further measures that weaken environmental protections, raising concerns about a coordinated attack on nature in the planning system.
Conservation leaders point to a broader trend of anti-nature rhetoric among some Cabinet ministers, highlighting a growing disconnect between government policy and public sentiment. Polling data shows that the majority of the British public values nature highly and does not support sacrificing wildlife for short-term economic growth. Citizens have actively voiced their opposition, with tens of thousands responding to consultations and contacting MPs to demand stronger nature protections in the Planning Bill and BNG rules.
Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the RSPB, emphasized that wildlife in England is in rapid decline, confined largely to reserves, and that the promised recovery under the Environment Act has stalled. She called on the government to address systemic barriers to sustainable development, such as poor policy, land banking, and skills shortages, rather than blaming wildlife for economic constraints. Speight urged ministers to strengthen the Planning Bill, uphold BNG requirements, and focus on building communities where nature and people can thrive together.
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, criticized the government for its inconsistent approach to environmental protection, highlighting that promises to support Biodiversity Net Gain are now being undermined. He warned that the Planning Bill threatens to remove the mitigation hierarchy from the planning process, stripping strict protections for irreplaceable natural areas. Bennett framed these actions as a betrayal of both England’s wild places and the public’s strong support for nature, calling for an urgent reversal to safeguard biodiversity and restore confidence in nature-focused policy.
