At the heart of the debate is Part 3 of the Bill, which would overhaul environmental protections in planning. It seeks to replace local, site-specific protections with a so-called strategic approach. Instead of requiring developers to avoid or minimise harm, Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) would allow them to pay into a central fund to compensate for the damage caused with no guarantee this would happen locally or at all.
That might sound efficient, but it risks creating a “pay-to-destroy” model. Once an ancient woodland or wildflower meadow is gone, no amount of money can bring it back. Species like bluebells and bats depend on stable, undisturbed habitats that take centuries to evolve. The moral stakes are high too: destroying a badger sett causes real stress, injury, and death.
Working alongside The Wildlife Trusts, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has worked closely with peers, raising awareness of the Bill’s risks and advocating for stronger protections that could safeguard nature from harm. Following crucial votes in the House of Lords, the Bill now returns to the House of Commons, where MPs must ensure safeguards remain.
Two amendments in the Bill are vital for Hampshire and the Island. Amendment 94 strengthens protections for our chalk streams and rivers, which are among the county’s most precious habitats. These crystal-clear waters are home to brown trout, water voles, otters and kingfishers. Once polluted, diverted, or built over, these unique ecosystems cannot be recreated elsewhere.
Amendment 130 ensures that EDPs are used only where they benefit nature - such as tackling air or water pollution - rather than being misapplied to species and habitats that depend on local conditions. Without it, species like dormice and badgers could lose vital legal safeguards. Badgers are territorial and depend on long-established setts; they cannot just “move on” when bulldozed.
Nature is at risk but your MP can make a difference. The Bill is close to becoming law, and without these safeguards, it could be disastrous for wildlife.
Please ask your MP to back Amendments 94 and 130. These vital protections are our last chance to make sure that wildlife and habitats aren’t sacrificed for development.
Nature needs your voice now. Visit here to submit a very easy online form to your MP.
