Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 33
33
The planning system should pay greater attention to the importance of green spaces and to...
Recommendation
The planning system should pay greater attention to the importance of green spaces and to wildlife near to people’s residences. The Government should reconsider the 108 The future of the planning system in England retention of sustainability assessments and ensure that the operation of Environmental Impact Assessments on the planning system is covered in its further consideration ahead of the Planning Bill. (Paragraph 232) The future of the planning system in England 109
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
68. The Government agrees that the impact of development on the natural environment needs to be factored into decision-making at both a strategic and project level. To achieve this, the Bill introduce a new framework of environmental assessment to replace the EU systems of Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Government is clear that these reforms will not result in a weakening of environmental safeguards and will provide the Government with the tools it needs to deliver more for the environment. 69. The new framework will be founded on the UK’s international obligations and will place environmental considerations at the centre of the reformed planning system. The new framework will introduce an outcomes-based approach to assessment which will ensure that assessment properly reflects our environmental priorities and will be more effective in addressing the impacts of development. It will support better, decision-making by providing decision-makers with the information they need to ensure the environment is placed at the heart of decision-making.