Changes to the way Natural England provides planning advice have
been set out today (Thursday 1 October), helping to better focus
its expertise to support a more efficient planning system while
protecting nature.
Under newly published reforms, Natural England will focus on
planning proposals which present the greatest risks or
opportunities for nature, allowing the regulator to prioritise
complex and strategic cases and engage earlier in the planning
process.
This comes as new Natural England Chief
Executive Neil Hornby's first day in post gets underway.
As demand for Natural England's planning advice has grown, its
expertise has been spread across a high volume of consultations,
often where established guidance already exists.
Today's changes will allow Natural England to move away from
providing repeated advice on individual cases and prioritise
larger-scale work, helping to identify and resolve environmental
issues early on.
Where established guidance or upfront advice exists, this will be
used to support local planning authorities with their decision
making on more routine matters.
Natural England will continue to fulfil its statutory
responsibilities to protect nature, with protections for
habitats, species and designated sites remaining firmly in place.
The changes are about how advice is delivered, ensuring expertise
is focused on high-risk and high-opportunity cases, while giving
planning authorities and developers greater consistency and
clarity.
Natural England Chief Executive Neil Hornby
said:
This change of approach will help us focus our expertise where it
can have the greatest impact for nature, while supporting
efficient decision making across the planning system.
Natural England is laser focused on advancing nature recovery and
meeting key legal Environment Act targets, while supporting the
government's ambition for good growth in every postcode.
This forms part of wider reforms to the planning system,
including those relating to the statutory consultee system. These
reforms are intended to help public bodies provide more strategic
support and focus specialist expertise on the planning issues and
proposals where it can deliver the greatest environmental
benefit.
The changes will be introduced gradually, with Natural England
continuing to work closely with local planning authorities,
developers and other partners as the new approach is implemented.
Support through standing advice, guidance and engagement will
help ensure a smooth transition and provide clarity and certainty
across the planning system.
Additional information:
-
The changes have been set out in Natural England's
Operational Statement.
-
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 amended Natural
England's duty under Section 4 of the Natural Environment and
Rural Communities Act 2006, but only in relation to planning
casework under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
-
The approach will be introduced gradually, supported by
updated guidance, engagement and tools to help local planning
authorities and developers understand when and how to engage
with Natural England.
