Recommendation 198

In a similar vein, despite a consultation on Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs), we were told that how the new system will operate, following the passing of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, remains unclear. 261 The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, in its assessment of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, concluded: “Parliament will have set no policy framework for assessing the environmental impact of proposals over as wider a range of activities as it is possible to imagine.” 262 It found that the department had provided inadequate justification for such skeleton legislation. 263 A lack of clear information on the nature and form of the proposed new EOR regime prevents us from commenting on whether this proposal will address any of the issues raised in this report. Whatever the potential effectiveness of this proposed new regime, the introduction of such fundamental changes creates uncertainty for developers and risks delays in delivery. 264