4.9.25 Opinion on Part 3 of the Planning and…

NatureSpace Partnership has published an Opinion by David Elvin KC (28.8.25) on the effect of the proposed amendments to Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructural Bill as they go to be considered by the House of Lords. This updated the position in his earlier opinion in April which was submitted as part of NatureSpace’s evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/publications

The CEO of NatureSpace, Dr Tom Tew, commented that:

“The opinions of Mr Elvin KC make it clear that the PIB, as it heads into Committee stage in the Lords, is environmentally regressive. Much of the legal uncertainty would be resolved simply by removing protected species from Part 3, leaving it to function for the diffuse effects (as was originally intended). The environment sector do not want to block development, we are fully supportive of the Government’s agenda for sustainable growth and there are a wide range of legal mechanisms already working well which will provide that win-win. The poorly drafted species provisions of Part 3 will actually slow development as well as harming wildlife.”

See: https://naturespaceuk.com/kings-counsel-opinion-2-pib/