Rachel Reeves sets Labour on collision course with environmentalists over 'bats and newts'

Nature campaigners and wildlife lovers have criticised chancellor Rachel Reeves after she said developers would “not need to worry about bats and newts” in her bid to ramp up growth in the UK economy.

Reeves’ speech on Wednesday (29 January) paved the way for a number of large infrastructure projects, including a controversial third runway at Heathrow Airport and a new 100,000 stadium for Manchester United, as the chancellor looks to boost the UK’s stagnating economy.

But Reeves, who said she was “shocked” at the speed of the planning system, courted controversy when she said that developers will be able to pay into a proposed nature restoration fund rather than considering the impact on development on “bats and newts”.

Joan Edwards, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Reeves appears unaware of the vital role nature plays in the UK, contrary to her ambition to become ‘Britain’s first green chancellor’. Nature protections are not blocking the UK’s success – they underpin our economy and make us safer. In fact, fuelling nature-degradation will only serve as a barrier to the prosperous growth the UK government wants. 

“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and one report after another details the appalling decline of natural habitats and the wildlife that depends on them. Bulldozing through nature-protected sites and creating a bonfire of environmental planning regulations will not drive the construction and growth we need, nor support efforts to address the nature and climate crises. 

“The Green Finance Institute estimates that ongoing nature degradation is now a drag on the UK economy and could lead to an estimated 12% reduction to GDP in the years ahead. Investing in nature’s recovery would not only secure economic growth but also build resilience against climate change and nature’s decline.” 

Labour has targeted sparking economic growth as its top priority while in power and that has put them on a perceived collision course with the country’s environmental commitments. 

The UK economy grew by 0.1% in November last year, according to the Office for National Statistics, putting more pressure on the Labour front bench to deliver on growth promises.

Reeves has targeted planning reforms since being named chancellor last summer, looking to make it easier to build large infrastructure projects and targeting the construction of 1.5 million homes to tackle the housing crisis.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has also vowed the government will be “builders not blockers”.

Labour’s planning reforms have earned praise in some quarters. Jamie Gollings, deputy research director at Social Market Foundation, said Reeves’ speech showed the “kind of urgency required” to boost housebuilding but said the government needs to “pull even more levers, more quickly and more firmly”.

But Adam Peggs, a researcher at fellow think tank Common Wealth, said that the focus on “bats and newts” is a distraction from Labour’s real challenge.

“Stopping developers worrying about ‘newts and bats’ will not revive a flagging economy or help the Labour government deliver the biggest uptick in ‘affordable’ housing for a generation,” said Peggs.

“The UK economy’s critical problem, and a central factor in our poor housing system, is insufficient public investment, from money for clean energy to new, high-quality council housing.”

Why are bats and newts being blamed for planning problems?

Planning applications are renowned for being slow to gain approval under the current system, which is discretionary and focuses on case-by-case applications.

Applications must also consider the impact on local wildlife and the environment and that can often see animals like bats and newts take the blame if a development will impact on their habitat.

The most notorious example came last year when Sir Jon Thompson, the chairman of HS2 Ltd building the controversial railway line, claimed they would have to build a ‘bat tunnel’ in Buckinghamshire costing £100m.

Environmental campaigners have said that there is “widespread misinformation blaming nature as a blocker”.

Joe Keegan, public affairs officer at the Wildlife Trusts, argued that healthy ecosystems mitigate risks to businesses such as flooding and droughts and also filter pollutants from water.

Keegan also said restoring nature offers wellbeing and health benefits which “strengthen the foundation for sustainable growth”.

The Wildlife Trusts expert said around 6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding and natural solutions such as wetlands – which also support newts – need to be protected.

He also said that situations like the HS2 ‘bat tunnel’ could have been prevented if the government had carried out a strategic environmental assessment when the railway line was approved more than a decade ago.

Keegan said: “This is clearly a multifaceted issue, and blaming beleaguered wildlife such as newts will do little to alleviate the very real housing crisis while aggravating the nature crisis.”

Meanwhile, the Bat Conservation Trust said 18 bat species could be impacted by the government planning reforms.

The charity argued the proposals would remove the requirement to carry out site surveys and on-site impact avoidance when submitting planning applications, which could lead to damage to bats’ habitats.

Developers would be able to “break the law and avoid necessary steps to protect species and habitats” in exchange for paying into a nature restoration fund, the group added.

A Bat Conservation Trust spokesperson told the Big Issue: “Blaming the laws that protect bats, newts and other wildlife, as well as our wider environment, for planning delays is short sighted and misguided.

“A healthy environment is essential for a thriving economy and there are ways to reduce planning delays whilst also protecting our natural heritage. We have highlighted ways to reduce delays in our planning briefing shared with the government.”

Rachel Reeves’ assertion has also faced opposition in political circles.

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, said: “The sheer arrogance of the chancellor standing there saying no more worrying about the bats and the newts?

“Who the hell does she think she is? She’s literally picking a fight with nature and the biodiversity of our planet. I know who most people will back!”

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