Labour’s planning bill threatens protected habitats, says environment watchdog

Nature organisations say legislation would remove safeguards for nature and put protected sites at risk

Keir Starmer's planning bill has been criticised by the environment watchdog, which has warned that the draft of the legislation would remove safeguards for nature and put protected sites at risk.

Currently, laws that protect habitats and nature are derived from EU legislation. Since the UK left the bloc, it has been able to weaken these laws that protect specific species and habitats.