The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is calling for urgent action to scrap Part 3 of the Government’s draft Planning and Infrastructure Bill, warning it poses the biggest threat to environmental protections in a generation.
The Trust says the proposed legislation would significantly weaken long-standing habitat laws, threatening nationally important sites such as the New Forest and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s chalk streams. It argues the changes would fast-track development at the expense of fragile wildlife and irreplaceable natural spaces.
Under the new proposals, developers could bypass requirements to avoid environmental harm by paying into a central nature restoration fund instead. The Trust warns this could result in habitat compensation happening miles away from affected communities, undermining local biodiversity and accountability.
Debbie Tann MBE, Chief Executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, has said:
“Labour promised to protect and restore nature, but the deeply flawed Planning Bill would break that manifesto pledge and betray millions of voters.
“Only 8% of England is protected for nature and less than half of that is in good condition. This is not the time to weaken safeguards – we need strong laws to protect the little we have left.”
Despite repeated calls from the Wildlife Trusts and other organisations for safeguards to be added to the Bill, including protections for chalk streams, proposed amendments have been rejected. The Office for Environmental Protection has also labelled the Bill ‘environmentally regressive’.
The Trust has now joined forces with the RSPB to demand the complete removal of Part 3, launching a public campaign urging residents to email their MPs and the Chancellor.
Debbie Tann added:
“This constant short-termism means everyone loses in the long run. Nature is not a blocker to growth – it’s central to our health, economy and communities. The only responsible decision now is to scrap Part 3 of the Bill.”
To support the campaign and contact your MP, visit https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/171483/action/1.
This Labour scum are worse than the bloody tories, something I thought I would never say. Quigley is a grinning idiot and knows or care about the island, and just follows the party line like a hungry puppy. Keir Stalin is the worst prime minister ever. A super tory if you like.
True, but all parties work for the same Elite leader.
Politicians are only paid for puppets who do what they
are paid and told to do!
Nothing will change whoever gets in.
The island is full of derelict sites ready to build on
The old Royal York Hotel in Ryde
The old ice skating rink in Ryde
The old Holiday camp in Puckpool Ryde
There are so many derelict hotels in Sandown
that are a blot on the landscape.
The Old Spa Hotel Shanklin, so many buildings have
been sitting derelict for years, they look an eyesore,
they are probably holding up the cliff!
The Esplanade Hotel along Shanklin seafront.
The Winter Gardens in Ventnor and the old
Frank James building in East Cowes
plus many more sites around the island
These are the places that could be used to build
new homes.
Leave green spaces alone.
The link at the bottom of the story doesn’t work.
Why is IOW Council not forcing compulsory purchases on all the derelict hotels and other properties, in order to turn them into apartments?
I just don’t understand the logic and mentality of this council. They represent the island but don’t seem to care about it.
Sadly the island is in the worst looking state it’s ever
been in.
The animal kingdom must be protected at all costs