Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Courts Excerpts

Thursday 20th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

6. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that developers in England enhance habitats for wildlife.

[Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)]

11. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that developers in England enhance habitats for wildlife.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

13. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that developers in England enhance habitats for wildlife.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Coffey]

Large infrastructure projects may require an environmental impact assessment of the likely effects. In the case of nationally significant infrastructure projects, the EIA forms a part of the planning process and the development consent order. I assure my hon. Friend that each consenting regime has appropriate enforcement mechanisms.

[Robert Courts]

West Oxfordshire wants the design of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds garden village to enhance, not harm, the environment. What guidance have Ministers given to developers on how garden villages can enhance things such as wildlife corridors and biodiversity in new developments?

[Dr Coffey]

Well-planned, locally led garden communities can play a vital role, not only in meeting the country’s housing needs and providing a stable pipeline of high-quality homes but by providing such opportunities as my hon. Friend referred to. In fact, they will be mandated to do so, to improve wildlife corridors and promote health and wellbeing and quality of life. That could be a win-win for my hon. Friend’s constituents.