Closed petition Add green infrastructure as a nationally significant project to the Planning Act

Closed on 18 February 2022

The Planning Act is heavily focused on infrastructure, such as road, rail and energy. We need legislation that enables conservation bodies (Environment Agency, Natural England) to apply for planning consent, including compulsory acquisition, for green infrastructure for the good of the nation.

Green infrastructure is a planned network of natural and semi-natural spaces with other environmental features designed to deliver a range of ecosystem services. The Government should do this to promote importance of the UK environment and conservation in its national planning. At present, the legislation is centred around mitigation, when there should be a greater promotion of new green infrastructure. It should be up to the planning authority to determine whether there is a 'Case for the Scheme' in the interest to the public. Currently there is no mechanism for green infrastructure schemes to come forward and be assessed.