Michael Gove, former Environment Secretary, is calling out Labour for a ‘profound biodiversity mistake’ in an article in the Times. It is said that the Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are pushing to exempt small plots from biodiversity net gain rules.
This would mean all plots under 0.5 hectare (which are the majority of planning applications) would exempt small housing developments – a blow for struggling farmers, who have been paid to turn over marginal land for habitat to offset building elsewhere. A major blow for our natural environment and our already seriously depleted wildlife habitat and endangered species if it goes through in December 2025.