Recommendations & Conclusions
17 items
34
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
The Government should conduct an assessment of the capacity and performance of monitoring of BNG commitments by local authorities. Local authorities must understand their responsibilities to ensure that BNG promised is delivered and buy in expertise and resource if it is not currently employed. LPAs should be held to account …
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The Government should conduct an assessment of the capacity and performance of monitoring of BNG commitments by local authorities. Local authorities must understand their responsibilities to ensure that BNG promised is delivered and buy in expertise and resource if it is not currently employed. LPAs should be held to account for adequate monitoring of BNG and resourced to deliver it. (Recommendation, Paragraph 118) 91
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Government response AI summary
The government states it continues to work with stakeholders to strengthen the planning workforce and already supports local planning authorities with ecology through existing recruitment, skills development, and specialist training programs, but does not commit to conducting a specific assessment of BNG monitoring capacity or …
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40
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
Additionally: a. “We recommend that following the introduction of whole life carbon assessments, the Government should develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets for the built environment, to match the pathway to net zero set out in periodic carbon budgets. These ratcheting targets should be reported on annually, and progress reports towards …
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Additionally: a. “We recommend that following the introduction of whole life carbon assessments, the Government should develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets for the built environment, to match the pathway to net zero set out in periodic carbon budgets. These ratcheting targets should be reported on annually, and progress reports towards achieving these targets should be published annually as part of the Net Zero Strategy indicators”. 92 b. “We recommend that a clear timeframe for the introduction of mandatory whole-life carbon assessments and ratcheting targets should be set by Government by the end of this year”. (Recommendation, Paragraph 142)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that it has already set legally binding carbon reduction targets and that it must be able to meet those targets in the round.
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49
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
The Government could also consider other financial incentives in product areas where the cost differential makes adoption of lower embodied carbon products unattractive and support for manufacturing set up of lower embodied carbon products. We recommend that the Government consult, by April 2026, on what further incentives could shift the …
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The Government could also consider other financial incentives in product areas where the cost differential makes adoption of lower embodied carbon products unattractive and support for manufacturing set up of lower embodied carbon products. We recommend that the Government consult, by April 2026, on what further incentives could shift the dial in this area. (Recommendation, Paragraph 160)
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is already exploring financial mechanisms such as the Advance Market Commitment pilot for low carbon concrete.
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50
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
Retrofitting existing buildings is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than demolition and new construction. We accept that not all existing properties can be converted into residential buildings, and do not deny that some new homes do need to be built. However, prioritising the retrofit and regeneration of existing buildings could …
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Retrofitting existing buildings is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than demolition and new construction. We accept that not all existing properties can be converted into residential buildings, and do not deny that some new homes do need to be built. However, prioritising the retrofit and regeneration of existing buildings could contribute substantial numbers towards the Government’s 1.5 million house building target, with minimal harm to nature and with minimal carbon emissions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 166)
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Government response AI summary
The government says that retrofitting and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy through a consultation on a new NPPF and the VAT system.
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51
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
Although retrofit and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy, it is often sidelined. Strengthening focus in this area should be prioritised, considering the range of benefits associated with doing so. (Conclusion, Paragraph 167)
Government response AI summary
The government says that retrofitting and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy through a consultation on a new NPPF and the VAT system.
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53
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
As with the embodied and operational carbon recommendation (Para 138nb mbnj ) we believe that the Government should investigate how it can use the tax system to reduce the tax burden on properties that reduce their carbon footprint and/or increase the tax burden on environmentally regressive properties to create a …
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As with the embodied and operational carbon recommendation (Para 138nb mbnj ) we believe that the Government should investigate how it can use the tax system to reduce the tax burden on properties that reduce their carbon footprint and/or increase the tax burden on environmentally regressive properties to create a greater incentive for making retrofitting decisions that reduce the carbon footprint of a home, as part of the review we recommended. (Conclusion, Paragraph 169) Skills and Resourcing
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Government response AI summary
The government recognizes the importance of reusing existing buildings and already encourages this through the VAT system on residential renovations. The government has also given local authorities powers and incentives to tackle empty homes.
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54
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
One of the strongest messages we have heard throughout this inquiry is that local planning authorities are severely under-resourced in terms of ecological expertise. Addressing this should be a priority, as without rapid and meaningful support, the Government will struggle to meet its house building targets while adhering to environmental …
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One of the strongest messages we have heard throughout this inquiry is that local planning authorities are severely under-resourced in terms of ecological expertise. Addressing this should be a priority, as without rapid and meaningful support, the Government will struggle to meet its house building targets while adhering to environmental standards. The Government must ensure that local planning authorities are adequately resourced in order to hire and train ecologists to execute the range of recently introduced and proposed environmental planning policies, such as Biodiversity Net Gain. (Conclusion, Paragraph 187)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that ecological expertise is critical in the planning system and outlines the actions it is already taking through additional investment and the Planning Capacity and Capability Programme to strengthen skills across the system.
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55
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, consisting of qualified ecologists and environmental planners, who are available …
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We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, consisting of qualified ecologists and environmental planners, who are available to local authorities facing acute resource challenges. The Government should establish a pilot programme for ecological resource hubs by July 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 188)
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Government response AI summary
The government believes existing investments in planning capacity, including funding for skills development, recruitment of ecologists, and support for environmental arm's-length bodies, make ecological resource hubs unnecessary, though they will keep the position under review.
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56
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
Qualifications in ecology may not always contain sufficient practical elements in the courses that equip future ecologists with the necessary skills for professional practice. The Committee has heard that some students may require additional training to develop the necessary competencies needed for professional roles after gaining formal qualifications such as …
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Qualifications in ecology may not always contain sufficient practical elements in the courses that equip future ecologists with the necessary skills for professional practice. The Committee has heard that some students may require additional training to develop the necessary competencies needed for professional roles after gaining formal qualifications such as degrees; this can add to planning delays and capacity issues in the sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 189)
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Government response AI summary
The government does not consider establishing separate ecological resource hubs is necessary, citing existing investments and close work with the sector to monitor capacity.
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57
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
We recommend that the Government, via Skills England, begins working with ecology qualification providers to standardise and embed essential practical components into ecology course design, by April 2026. This is to ensure that courses are geared towards modern policy demands and individuals are sufficiently equipped with the necessary skills for …
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We recommend that the Government, via Skills England, begins working with ecology qualification providers to standardise and embed essential practical components into ecology course design, by April 2026. This is to ensure that courses are geared towards modern policy demands and individuals are sufficiently equipped with the necessary skills for their professional practice. This should include training on the planning system for ecologists. (Recommendation, Paragraph 190) 95
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Government response AI summary
The government asserts that it already supports local planning authorities with ecology through recruitment, skills development and specialist training, referencing a previous response.
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58
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
The Government should partner with professional bodies to accelerate the training of early-career ecologists through a national level, government- supported pathway, similar to that of the Pathways to Planning programme backed by the Local Government Association and MHCLG. The first iteration of this programme should be introduced by September 2027, …
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The Government should partner with professional bodies to accelerate the training of early-career ecologists through a national level, government- supported pathway, similar to that of the Pathways to Planning programme backed by the Local Government Association and MHCLG. The first iteration of this programme should be introduced by September 2027, at the very latest. (Recommendation, Paragraph 191)
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Government response AI summary
The government states they are already expanding national routes into planning and related environmental roles and do not consider a separate, ecology-specific national pathway necessary at this time, but will keep this under review.
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59
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
The shortage of planning professionals in local authorities is undermining the planning system’s ability to function effectively. Planning officers are unable to thoroughly consider applications within statutory timeframes and are unable to adequately pre-consult. This capacity gap compromises the quality, transparency and timeliness of planning decisions. This is problematic, as …
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The shortage of planning professionals in local authorities is undermining the planning system’s ability to function effectively. Planning officers are unable to thoroughly consider applications within statutory timeframes and are unable to adequately pre-consult. This capacity gap compromises the quality, transparency and timeliness of planning decisions. This is problematic, as Natural England has gaps in its own expertise and relies on knowledge from local authorities. (Conclusion, Paragraph 202)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that ecological expertise is critical in the planning system and outlines the actions it is already taking through additional investment and the Planning Capacity and Capability Programme to strengthen skills across the system.
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63
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
We have heard concerns that the construction industry does not have the numbers, nor the skills, needed to deliver the volume or types of homes that will enable the Government to meet its targets for housing, the environment, nature and net zero. We welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of this, along …
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We have heard concerns that the construction industry does not have the numbers, nor the skills, needed to deliver the volume or types of homes that will enable the Government to meet its targets for housing, the environment, nature and net zero. We welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of this, along with its investments and policies to expand the construction workforce by 100,000 and equip it with the skills needed to deliver on its ambitious plans. (Conclusion, Paragraph 216)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concerns, and states that Skills England publishes assessments of priority skills, and a Construction Jobs Plan is being developed. The government also says it is investing £15bn in home upgrades via its Warm Homes Plan and has made several policy commitments …
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64
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
However, we are yet to be convinced that this alone will be enough. As the Government itself has acknowledged, the construction sector will be instrumental in meeting wider Government commitments. Recruiting new talent is essential but training takes time and, in the interim, the existing workforce is already overstretched but …
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However, we are yet to be convinced that this alone will be enough. As the Government itself has acknowledged, the construction sector will be instrumental in meeting wider Government commitments. Recruiting new talent is essential but training takes time and, in the interim, the existing workforce is already overstretched but expected to increase output. We are concerned as to whether the Government has adequately demonstrated that the existing and future construction workforce will have the full range of skills needed to meet housing and environment targets. These skills include the ability to work with new materials, install a range of technologies, maximise the productivity of brownfield sites, use the latest digital tools, and have the knowledge and skills to interact with planning professionals and ecologists. (Conclusion, Paragraph 217)
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Government response AI summary
The government describes existing actions to address skills gaps in the construction sector, including skills assessments, a Construction Jobs Plan, funding for skills, and investment in home upgrades, in response to concerns about the workforce's ability to meet housing and environmental targets.
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65
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
We recommend that the Government, in response to this report, should: • Provide a realistic assessment of the construction workforce and what is needed to deliver the Government’s housing targets for each remaining year of this Parliament. This should include: ○ Annual estimates of the number of construction workers needed …
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We recommend that the Government, in response to this report, should: • Provide a realistic assessment of the construction workforce and what is needed to deliver the Government’s housing targets for each remaining year of this Parliament. This should include: ○ Annual estimates of the number of construction workers needed to meet the Government’s yearly and five-year home building targets. ○ The projected natural wastage (i.e. rates of retirement) for each year from the existing workforce, to establish a baseline for recruitment and anticipate the impacts on home building. ○ Projections as to how many new recruits are expected to join the construction workforce, after adequate training that focusses on building residential properties. ○ Possible contingencies, for each year, if existing and projected workforce levels are insufficient to deliver annual housing targets. • Set out an analysis of the skill set the Government believes will be required to deliver 1.5 million homes, in line with climate and biodiversity targets. This should include an analysis of any significant gaps and how they will be addressed, in addition to: 97 ○ Skills required to install sustainable building materials. ○ Digital skills and tools to improve efficiency and support the measurement and reduction of embodied and operational carbon. ○ Skills and knowledge to maximise the development of brownfield sites for housing. ○ Skills needed to retrofit existing housing stock, to meet environmental and net zero standards. ○ An ability to work with ecologists and planning professionals to ensure optimum environmental and nature-based outcomes and support key policies such as Biodiversity Net Gain. (Recommendation, Paragraph 218)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that Skills England publishes assessments of priority skills needed across the economy to 2030, including construction and housebuilding and mentions additional funding and plans addressing skills gaps.
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66
Conclusion
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
If the environmental objectives of the Government are to be achieved, it is vital that Natural England (NE) is adequately resourced. However, NE does not currently have the necessary resources to deliver the Government’s expectations of it. Its reliance on partners, such as local authorities, is concerning considering they are …
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If the environmental objectives of the Government are to be achieved, it is vital that Natural England (NE) is adequately resourced. However, NE does not currently have the necessary resources to deliver the Government’s expectations of it. Its reliance on partners, such as local authorities, is concerning considering they are also subject to severe under-resourcing. (Conclusion, Paragraph 226)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that it has allocated funding to set up the Nature Restoration Fund and further funding to boost capacity in the planning system, and will continue to work with Natural England to ensure appropriate resources are in place.
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67
Recommendation
6th Report - Environmental sustainabili…
Accepted
The Government should publish a paper, by March 2026, clearly laying out the Government’s housing targets, NE’s role as a statutory consultee and in developing and implementing the NRF, and what resourcing will be required for NE going forwards to deliver this. This paper should include details as to how …
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The Government should publish a paper, by March 2026, clearly laying out the Government’s housing targets, NE’s role as a statutory consultee and in developing and implementing the NRF, and what resourcing will be required for NE going forwards to deliver this. This paper should include details as to how NE will operate in light of staffing cuts and the additional responsibilities that it will be given when the current Planning and Infrastructure Bill is enacted. (Recommendation, Paragraph 227) 98
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Planning and Infrastructure Act establishes Natural England’s role in developing and implementing the NRF and mentions funding allocated to set up and support the NRF.
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