Evidence session: Environmental sustainability and housing growth
Wednesday 4 June 2025,
14.30, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
MPs will consider whether skills shortages in the UK could hinder
the Government's ambitious housebuilding and nature agendas, in
an evidence session on Wednesday 4 June.
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee are currently holding an
inquiry into how the Government can grow the UK's housing stock
while meeting environmental goals.
Sectors facing significant skills gaps include ecology, and low
carbon construction and retrofit. Academics from the University
of Wolverhampton say the construction industry needs an extra
251,000 people to join the sector by 2028, while a quarter of
local planning authorities lack access to ecological expertise,
the Association of Local Government Ecologists found in
2022.
Amid reports that Natural England is due to cut around 200 jobs,
MPs are likely to ask whether the UK has enough skilled
professionals to deliver the high level of both new housing and
nature restoration the Government has pledged.
They are also likely to ask what unique challenges are presented
by the need to construct net zero homes, and whether a lack of
digital skills across construction is impeding innovation and
sustainability.
Separately, MPs will ask another panel of witnesses about their
experiences of implementing biodiversity net gain – a theme
across the inquiry – and how the policy can better support small
sites.
Witnesses
From 14.30:
-
, Managing Director, Meadfleet
- Emma Toovey, Chief Land and Nature Officer, Environment Bank
- Niall McGann, Group CEO, Fexco Property Services
From 15.30:
- Dr Rufus Howard, Institute of Environmental Management and
Assessment, Impact Assessment Policy Lead
- Sue Searle, Managing Director and Principal Ecologist,
Ecology Training UK
- Brian Berry, CEO, Federation of Master Builders
