Sir Keir Starmer wants to reclassify parts of the green belt for development
Environment chief outlines Sir Keir Starmer's proposals to build on bushland called » «worrying» — a clear criticism of Labour's flagship housing plans.
Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, responded to reports announcing Sir Keir's pledge to reclassify parts of the green belt for development. warning that “shrub growth is one of the fastest ways to make progress in nature restoration.”
Natural England is already accused of blocking the construction of 140,000 homes, and Mr Juniper's intervention has drawn criticism from Tory and Labor MPs who favor rapid housing growth amid a severe housing shortage.
It suggests that Labor may face resistance. from Natural England if the party forms a government and tries to implement its plans to build on green belt land.
However, Mr Juniper told the Telegraph newspaper that «I do not regard the sharing of important information as criticism». He said he was simply «raising the importance of bushland», which is «very valuable for wildlife» and «plays a hugely underappreciated role in achieving our 2030 goal of reversing nature's decline.»
Mr Juniper, a former director of campaign group Friends of the Earth, was appointed to his current position by Michael Gove, the then environment secretary, in 2019 and is due to remain in the post until 2025. Prior to his appointment, he served as Green Party candidate in 2010, when he said he had «effectively introduced» the Labour-era Climate Change Act, which requires the government to set legally binding «carbon budgets».
«The bush is important for «His comments follow criticism of Natural England's role in enforcing EU rules that require developers to prove new developments will not increase phosphate and nitrate levels in rivers.
However, Mr Juniper said the body «objects to less than 1 per cent of planning applications» and Natural England insisted it was «contributing to the goal of sustainable development».
Mr Juniper's remarks came in Twitter hours before Sir Keir's speech at Labour's Liverpool conference, in which he pledged to build on sites that are a «blatantly ridiculous» use of green belt, such as «dismal wasteland».
The speech expanded on an earlier speech by Lisa Nandy, the then shadow housing minister, who said in June that a Labor government would clear «dilapidated, derelict bushland to build more housing».
Publishing one article ahead of Sir's speech Keira, Mr Juniper said: “Some reports today refer to the green belt as 'bush', implying that development on such land is better than what is currently there. The truth is that expanding bushland is one of the fastest ways to make progress in nature restoration. Very worrying.”
In a later post, he added: “At every turn we are reminded of the vital importance of looking at whole systems rather than one thing at a time. It's not easy, but if done correctly, you can save a lot of time and nerves. We are not there culturally or institutionally, but we could make progress if we tried.»
Juniper's comments are «immoral.»
Simon Clarke, Conservative MP and former housing secretary, said: “These comments show that the Natural England chair is simply determined to block new homes, period.
“For Mr. Juniper to preach about the virtues of “cleansing” at a time when high prices and rents are forcing so many families out of decent homes is downright immoral.”
Siobhan McDonagh, Labor MP for Mitcham and Morden, urged Mr Juniper to remember the need for more housing, adding: “If Tony Juniper wants to come to me for a consultation on any Friday, I will introduce him to people who are suffering in one-room apartment with four or five children.
“If you saw the places that I saw [in the green belt], it is absolutely clear to me that these places do not represent any environmental value. But she added: “No one who spends a minute on this issue underestimates the resistance we will encounter.”
The Federation of Home Builders said nutrient neutrality rules, which mean companies must prove new developments will not increase phosphate and nitrate levels in rivers, are preventing the construction of about 140,000 homes. The industry has accused Natural England of vastly overestimating the impact of new house building on nutrient pollution.
'Ridiculous'
Natural England rejects the idea that it is blocking house building, saying it is simply helping to enforce policy carried out by ministers.
His help is that while some land suitable for new housing could be described as «shrub», «the conservation definition of bush refers to scrub-rich habitats and early stage native mixed woodlands that are incredibly rich in wildlife.»
Mr Juniper added: “Telegraph readers know the value of our natural environment. and they know that building homes and protecting the environment is not a binary choice; if good, then these two approaches can be mutually beneficial.
“We are already successfully building the future and protecting nature. Natural England advises thousands of developers across the country every year to help make development projects compatible with nature and objects to less than 1 per cent of planning applications.
“The suggestion that protecting nature is stopping us from achieving our core housing goals completely unfounded.»
Natural England said it was “ridiculous” to suggest Mr Juniper was against any development.
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