This week I made the decision to not vote to support the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

There are elements of the bill that are good and which I agree with. But as it stands, the bill is not one which I can support. I particularly have concerns about the impact of the bill on nature and the environment, which is a concern shared by the many constituents who wrote to me about this bill.

During the debate this week, I also raised issues with developers sitting on land to boost profits. This is a crisis that’s holding up housebuilding, and ripping up nature protections won’t solve this problem.

Watch my intervention here. 

I also supported and voted for Amendment 69, tabled by my Labour colleague Chris Hinchliff MP.

Amendment 69 would have required Environmental Delivery Plans to set out a timetable for, and thereafter report on, conservation measures, and require improvement of the conservation status of specified features before development takes place in areas where Natural England considers development could cause significant environmental damage.

I have a longstanding track record as championing climate and nature policy. This includes being a co-sponsor of the Climate and Nature Bill, which was debated in January this year. Watch my speech in support of that bill here. 

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. I hope the Government will think again on some of the amendments and asks, so that the eventual bill reflects a compromise which ensures nature remains protected.