Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the way brownfield sites may be used for nature rich environments.

Specific discussions on the use of brownfield sites for nature-rich environments have not taken place between the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The Environment Act 2021 introduced a number of policies that will support the restoration of habitat, including identifying areas in urban communities where nature recovery could be particularly beneficial.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work together to drive action, including to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive, while conservation covenants will help secure habitat for the long term. LNRSs will provide the spatial framework for the Nature Recovery Network, which will guide creation, restoration and connectivity of habitats and sites to create mosaics of wildlife-rich habitat, including in urban communities; and incentivise private partnerships.

The Green Infrastructure Framework, launched in January, will help local planning authorities and developers to create or improve green infrastructure.