Government announces removal of environmental permits for pre-construction works
Environment minister Emma Hardy has announced changes to the environmental permitting system with the intention of reducing wait times to push the new homes drive.
Changes should remove early hold-ups for builders, speeding up construction of new housing and infrastructure in England by removing this extra step.
The Environment Agency will consider which activities should be exempt from requiring an environmental permit, making the regime quicker and more flexible.
Site investigation works, the storage of waste materials and drainage operations are currently required to acquire environmental permits before they begin. According to the government, they pose only minimal risk and therefore hold up new developments from the start.
Hardy says “ we are committed to ensuring that environmental regulation works for everyone,” adding:
“As part of the Plan for Change, a common-sense approach to environmental permitting in England will boost economic growth and unleash an era of building, while also keeping people and the environment safe.”
There will be safeguards in place to ensure that decisions do not come at the expense of the environment.
Legislation will be brought forward once parliamentary time allows.