Dr Martin Brammah CEcol’s Post

I’m fully supportive of protecting bats newts and their habitat. Having just completed a recent project that involved various ecological bat surveys at great expense, I couldn’t help think that this money and time (and it was considerable) would be better spent on regenerating aspect of the wider bats ecosystem. I like spending money that is polybeneficial (is that a word?) We are at the start of a climate and #biodiversity systems collapse and time & money should be spend on healing systems. Let’s not get too focused on the detail? #Regenerativedesign

"We can’t have a situation where a newt is more protected than people who desperately need housing." Wow. Just when I think there's some progress being made, a prominent politician trots out this sort of nonsense. Contrary to what our Deputy PM has been told, newts are not prioritised over building affordable homes. There are plenty of examples of projects being poorly planned and councils are too poorly resourced to make solid decisions about development that affects nature and people. But it's never, in my experience, been a case that newts, bats or any other protected species actually held up essential development. Basic program management will get your housing development application in on on time, with your ecology surveys in hand. Decent training and funding of councils will mean more effective decision making for communities. This sort of "nature Vs people" approach has got to go out of our thinking now. The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The Green Finance Institute links a 12% loss of GDP to biodiversity decline. Nature supports flood alleviation, carbon storage, soil health and helps improve air quality - all ways we can secure better health outcomes and less burden on the NHS. Not to mention better soils for producing our food, and fewer devastating floods in our homes. Quite frankly, anyone who can't see that restoring nature will create a better environment for people to live in has no business talking about the subject. The DPM apparently thinks the balance between protecting nature and people is wrong. She's right - neither are well served by this. Nature's needs ARE people's needs! But nope, let's not join those dots and invest in nature. Let's blame the need to protect it for the housing shortages we see... let's ignore the lack of support for councils, the lack of will from government or the housing industry to actually provide genuinely affordable homes where everyone has access to nature, and blame some newts.

If anyone cares to read the #StateofNature reports published over the period during which #NewLabour devolved into #NewtBlamers or even check reality of helpless developers struggling in the grip of #GCNs they might gain some inkling into just how much damage has been done to the economy, our ability to adapt to climate change and people's well-being by the UK's woeful approach to its #NaturalCapital. All political parties have had the opportunity to develop an effective #landuseframework, and a workable #Plan4Nature and the environment, into which which #properplanning that takes account of real world constraints. Such is yet to materialise, however, and we appear to be stuck with ill-conceived, knee-jerk policies. And still no sign of the strategic plan that was due to have been produced before #COP15 either. At least no-one seems to have suggested that newts be relocated to Rwanda. At least not yet. If the Government could move forwards on a credible plan for nature and agriculture, that would help with many other issues. That should be at the heart of any planning reform.

Proud to share a letter published in today's The Times, coordinated by Unchecked UK, responding to the Prime Minister's comments about regulators being "blockers and bureaucrats." Along with leaders from 10 environmental and social protection organisations including RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Link, and the The Wildlife Trusts, we argue that effective regulation is key to delivering the government's housing ambitions - not a barrier to progress. After years of being hollowed out, our regulatory bodies need proper investment and clear duties to protect the public interest. That's how we'll unlock the new generation of homes this country needs. Thanks to all our co-signatories for joining us in making this important intervention. You can read the full letter here Beccy Speight, CEO, RSPB Phoebe Clay, Director, Unchecked UK Richard Benwell, Chief Executive, Wildlife and Countryside Link Link Josie Cohen, Head of Policy & Campaigns, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe Network UK Simon Youel, Head of Policy & Advocacy, Positive Money UK Nick Measham, CEO, WildFish Kit Stoner, Chief Executive, Bat Conservation Trust  Joan Edwards OBE, Director Policy and Public Affairs, The Wildlife Trusts Catherine Gunby , Executive Director, Fidra Rupert Read, Co-Director, Climate Majority Project Leonie Nimmo, Executive Director, GM Freeze #regulation #housing #sustainability #planning

Grey belt? Give me strength. The new definition for fields and green spaces that are not defined as AONB can now be built on with a minimum process for approval. Does no one in Westminster know why "green belt" was defined? To protect wildlife AND to prevent massive conurbations being created. It has been destroyed in Ipswich, which is now resulting in villages being swallowed up. Despite it being a conurbation, council boundaries remain the same, which means areas that people consider as "Ipswich" are not included in council services and decisions. Will a new city boundary and definition help? Meanwhile, hedgrows and wildlife lose habitat. Mmm, wonder why Suffolk has significant flood issues? There are brown sites that are derelict and need attention. More expensive to build on, more expensive to sort out hidden horrors beneath the soil before building can happen, and more creative design is needed than off-the-plan homes. I understand why developers prefer to destroy the countryside, but the government should be protecting the environment and making a change. There are other ways to deal with the housing crisis. And if the government is going to destroy the countryside further, maybe they could make sure the houses are built to new environment standards with appropriate heating, car charging and home working spaces. How will this lazy housing policy be married with environment and green issues? I watch with interest. #HousingCrisis #HousingDevelopment #ProtectingCountryside

🎉 APPEAL ALLOWED FOR UP TO 30 HOUSES IN BRAUNSTON-IN-RUTLAND! 🎉 We are delighted to announce that our appeal was allowed this morning granting permission for the development of up to 30 dwellings at Brooke Road, Braunston-in-Rutland. The Inspector concurred with our arguments that the locational development plan policies did not recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and were based on outdated housing requirements. He also agreed that, as there had been a reliance on unallocated countryside sites to meet the housing requirement, were housing only approved in line with the constraints set out by policies CS4, CS9 and SP6, the Council would have been (and will continue to be) unable to deliver its required housing numbers. Polices CS4, CS9 and SP6 therefore run contrary to the Framework’s objective at paragraph 60 of significantly boosting the supply of homes and are out of date. In finding no harm to the conservation area or landscape setting he allowed the appeal which also delivers: 40% Affordable Housing; 2 Self-Build/Custom Dwellings; a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain; and support for the local economy and infrastructure. #PlanningSuccess #CommunityDevelopment #AffordableHousing #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment #UKHousing #HousingPolicy

Fake nature is no replacement for wild spaces, we have far too few of those to n urban places. Although it's important that developments have more greenspaces, it mustn't be at the expense of nature. Community voices need to be heard and listened too, this resonates with the ongoing battle in #Macclesfield to save the critically important remaining lowland pearlland of #DanesMoss , we also need more genuine neighborhood plans, communities should be involved at all stages in deciding where developments should be and what they should look like not driven by money and developers. Our townscapes and fringe areas are awash with the ugly mediocrity of the majority of overpriced modern developments, people, communities deserve better places to live and above all #nature needs to have a seat at the table and be at the ❤️ of everything we do. We are slowly, far too slowly waking up to what happens when nature is harmed and planetary boundaries exceeded.Places matter, we need better community led smaller scale developments, communities aren't created by throwing up hundreds, even thousands of shortlife houses with little or no infrastructure and largely car centric. Communities are made by people. Andy Middleton Ken Moon Nigel Pugh Jane Davidson https://lnkd.in/eFBpEh9i

We have an update on this story in PerthNow Local Newspapers for you and GREAT NEWS for large trees in Bassendean💚🌳💚 The Bassendean Local Planning Scheme No. 11 was gazetted this week WITHOUT a proposed provision that tree removal was to be exempt from requiring development approval, unless it was on a self-nominated Significant Tree Register. Thankfully the Minister for Planning chose not to proceed with that one. This means that the Town of Bassendean can now proceed with a proposed local planning policy to protect trees on private property. We have a Canopy Crisis so we hope the Bassendean Council will progress this ASAP. We are very pleased that others Council are also progressing Tree Retention Local Planning Policies in line with the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) template. Is yours??? Let us know. Cr.Karen Wheatland Helen Sadler Basil Zempilas Emily Wilding Serena Williamson GAICD CA Peter Melrosa Ryan Brown Lynn MacLaren Dawn Jecks Filomena Piffaretti Chilla Bulbeck Georgie Carey Alison Xamon Fiona Argyle Margaret Thomas #CanopyCrisis #treeprotection #urbanforest #resilientcities #liveablecities #healthycities #climateadaptation #WATCA #localplanningpolicy #treeretention

when the next consultation on your local development plan begins, this is the discussion we all need to be having, not letting profit-led developers sing the tune

https://lnkd.in/gvrv_Rhv I am not sure that most people in Ontario view the greenbelt as a commodity - probably some don't think of it at all. I think we demonstrated that many do think of it as valuable greenspace, farming land, vital habitats and beautiful areas to see nature. The fact the industry and the government often do not is another story and perhaps is because more people are not loud enough about how important greenspace is to them. As citizens - if we value nature and preserving wildlife, vital watersheds and natural habitats - not to mention places where we can hike, camp, canoe and enjoy the beauty of nature - we need to make that opinion loud and clear. I think there were a great number of citizens in Ontario that raised concerns when the developer deals were made and certainly enough that the government reconsidered. Which is something to celebrate. We need to keep up that pressure and make it clear that we are serious about saving the last areas that are left. If we want to mitigate climate change, reverse some of the worst effects and preserve the beauty of greenspace, we need to keep sending the message that it has much more value as it is than being sold to pave over. There is a huge economic value to nature and that needs to be stressed. If that's the message that resonates with government - speak to that. A healthy planet is profitable for everyone. #hprt #wecaretorepair