The CIEEM is The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management is the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad. (And, no, I am not involved in it. No one ever wants me involved with things 😂)
MPs have tonight voted on Lords’ amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as it returned to the House of Commons.
CIEEM has been actively encouraging MPs to support Amendments 38 and 40, which sought to ensure that planning and infrastructure decisions protect nature and promote genuinely sustainable development.
Despite clear concerns raised by experts, communities and environmental professionals – most of whom were not consulted during the drafting of this Bill – the Government stood firm in rejecting both Amendments 38 and 40, urging MPs to vote against them.
On Amendment 38, there was a small concession from the Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP, who said: “I am minded to include chalk streams in the suite of national policies for decision making coming later this year.”
Amendment 40 was subsequently taken to a vote, which the Government won by 244 votes to 132. This is a disappointing outcome for nature.
We would like to thank the Peers in the House of Lords for their hard work in improving this Bill, and the MPs from across the political spectrum – particularly those from the party of government – who spoke up for common sense, nature and the public good.
There remains a possibility that Peers in the House of Lords will insist on reintroducing Amendment 40, especially given the large majority and cross-party support it received in the upper chamber. The Bill will return to the Lords on Monday 24 November 2025.
CIEEM continues to call for a planning system that works with nature, not against it.
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