The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has issued a letter to the UK Government, cautioning that its proposed planning reforms risk undermining environmental safeguards unless strengthened.
In a letter published on 2 May 2025, the OEP acknowledged the Government’s stated ambition to align planning policy with nature recovery goals, calling the intention to achieve “win-win” outcomes for development and the environment both “laudable” and potentially beneficial. However, the watchdog said key elements of the Bill, as currently drafted, fall short of ensuring robust protections for habitats and species.
“There are fewer protections for nature written into the Bill than under existing law,” said Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the OEP. “Creating new flexibility without sufficient legal safeguards could see environmental outcomes lessened over time.”
The OEP expressed concern that, while the Government aims to enhance environmental outcomes overall, the legislation does not preserve high levels of legal protection for specific habitats and species. “In our considered view, the Bill would have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by existing environmental law. As drafted, the provisions are a regression,” Stacey added.
The advisory body also noted that the Government is currently off track in meeting its legally binding targets under the Environment Act, with several key deadlines approaching. It urged Ministers to adopt a more strategic approach to challenges such as nutrient pollution and called for action to be coordinated at an appropriate geographical scale.
The OEP proposed strengthening the Bill’s ‘overall improvement test’ and including additional safeguards for protected site networks to ensure planning reforms contribute meaningfully to nature recovery. These changes, the body said, would significantly improve the likelihood of delivering both environmental gains and streamlined planning decisions.
The Government is now expected to respond to the OEP’s recommendations as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
