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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure developers in England enhance habitats for wildlife.

The 25 Year Environment Plan set out the Government’s ambitions for thriving plants and wildlife. We have committed to embedding a net gain approach to development, strengthened the National Planning Policy Framework to make it clear that all development within its scope should achieve net gains for biodiversity and consulted on proposals to mandate biodiversity net gain for development. We will use the forthcoming Environment Bill to legislate for mandatory biodiversity net gain in the planning system. A mandatory approach will provide a consistent framework for the development sector to contribute to the provision and enhancement of habitats for wildlife.