Planning: the campaign goes on
Thank you to everyone who has raised their voice to reduce the risks posed to nature by the Planning & Infrastructure Bill.
Last month the Lords voted to add important protections: one was focused on protecting chalk streams (amendment 94), while another (amendment 130) aimed to prevent a major part of the Bill applying in areas where it could hurt rare species and habitats.
On 10 November, both amendments returned to the Commons.
Over 30,000 supporters of The Wildlife Trusts - including over 2,000 from Sussex - emailed their MPs, urging them to retain these key amendments.
On 13 November, despite some powerful speeches from MPs of all parties backing the improvements, the Government pressured its supporters in the Commons to reject both amendments, and they were dropped.
Even so, a significant group of Labour MPs abstained as a protest, including MPs that Trusts have met with over recent weeks.
What next?
The Bill now returns to the House of Lords for further debate, and our campaign does not stop.
We are asking peers to vote next week to insist on both amendments being added back into the Bill, and for MPs to keep up the pressure on Ministers.
Negotiations continue behind the scenes, empowered by the strong showing both amendments had in the Commons.
What you can do
An incredible number of emails have been sent by defenders of wildlife to MPs, and we need to keep going.
The more pressure we can keep up, the more likely it is we can win vital changes for wildlife, even at this late stage.
Comments
I wrote to my MP independently about the rejection of the amendments. I don’t know and didn’t ask if supported the amendments or not but the reply was a cut and paste Labour Party defence of the rejection. I am so frustrated and disappointed with how negligent and lacking in imagination this government about protecting nature. Having been a Labour voter, I am disgusted at their wilful disregard of all the evidence. What a sorry bunch.
20 Nov 2025 13:53:00
The government has given a green light to build build build. Sussex is being over run with Housing estates. I predict in 10 years time people will be thinking with horror, “what have we done?” We have allowed developers to destroy habitats and creat a sussex that is the most populated (over populated) county in England. The only people that will thank you is developpers who are lining their pockets at the expense of our enviornment. I predict they will invest their money off shore and not pay tax and possibly become x pats.and not pay taxes
20 Nov 2025 17:08:00
When the Planning & Infrastructure Bill returns to the commons it is essential that you withstand pressure from government whips and at the very least keep in amendments 94 and 130. Once we have lost vital natural assets there will not be an opportunity to chage your mind later. I know that we need more housing and better infrastructure but not regardless of the long term cost.
20 Nov 2025 19:53:00
I just don’t understand this madness. We are destroying the lives or the amazing creatures in our county. What for? Greed. I know you are an avid supporter of our countryside. I wanted to thank you
21 Nov 2025 08:49:00
Wildlife do not have a voice and it’s up to us to speak for them and put plans in place to protect them AND our environment. Will you speak for us and get this Bill through to protect our wildlife habit.
22 Nov 2025 08:18:00
Please consider natural habitats and the future of England’s wildlife … chalk streams are extremely rare and need protection.
23 Nov 2025 17:20:00
It is essential that we protect all wildlife & natural habitat.We do not want a concrete jungle & must protect nature.
26 Nov 2025 16:46:00