Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust: Possible shift from economy-driven housing targets could be good news for wildlife and communities

Last October, the Wildlife Trusts published a report, Planning A New Way Forward, which called for a planning system that enshrines people’s access to nature in law.

The report landed not long after the government had announced a pause on a raft of proposed planning reforms — having tasked the newly-created Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities with coming up with new solutions.

While we have yet to see or hear any detail of what might be included in any new legislation, recent public comments by the Secretary of State heading up the department, Michael Gove, suggest a significant change of direction — at least in terms of the system being driven by unachievable housing targets.