Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 91
The application and approvals process for tree planting is seen as too bureaucratic by land-owning...
Recommendation
The application and approvals process for tree planting is seen as too bureaucratic by land-owning and forestry organisations. While we understand the importance of not weakening the environmental controls, there appears to be a consensus that it is possible to speed up the approval process by improving administration, guidance and advice. While the Government has provided additional resources for the Forestry Commission and Natural England, it needs to ensure that funding keeps pace with the likely increase in application numbers and requests for advice and support. We recommend that Defra consult on the criteria and process for its review of approvals regulations, which it should aim to conclude by December 2022. We further recommend that Defra set out what additional resources from the last Spending Review will be used to enable the Forestry Commission and Natural England to meet the additional work arising from the Government’s planting ambition and provide the analysis it has undertaken to assure itself that the planned funding is sufficient.
Government Response Summary
The government is undertaking a Post Implementation Review (PIR) on the 2017 amendments to the Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and will consider stakeholder views, and is set to publish a new framework for Environmental Impact Assessments.
Paragraph Reference:
91
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We are currently undertaking a Post Implementation Review (PIR) on the 2017 amendments to the Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. This will include stakeholder views and will conclude mid-2022. The PIR will consider the implementation of the Forestry EIA and whether it meets the objective of enabling nature recovery and sustainable development. The conclusions of the PIR will inform any potential future reforms of the Forestry EIA. As set out in the Planning White Paper and the National Infrastructure Strategy, the Government is set to publish a new framework for Environmental Impact Assessments that provides clarity, removes duplication, and ensures environmental considerations are embedded effectively in EIA decision making at an early stage. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will give us the powers to bring this new system about. Across the lifetime of the NCF Programme Natural England and Forestry Commission (including Forestry England) will receive £260.6m CDEL and £63.0m RDEL to support the delivery of tree programme – subject to annual review of programme delivery to maximise value for money. This funding has undergone a robust business case approval process underpinned by extensive analysis and Impact Assessment work. This helped inform final decision making and ensures funding is sufficient to resource the regulatory provision necessary to meet rising demand due to increased planting activity.