The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is set to return to the House of Commons next week (week commencing 10 Nov). There is an opportunity to limit the damage the Bill will have but we need everyone to email their MP urgently ahead of next week’s crucial votes.
Amendment 130 is the best chance to reduce the Bill’s risks to bat conservation. It focuses Environmental Delivery Plans on issues like nutrient neutrality and air quality. This is because scientific evidence supports a strategic approach for these issues, whereas the evidence simply isn’t there for many species and habitats.
Now that Amendment 130 has been passed by the House of Lords, it will be considered in the House of Commons. This will happen after Third Reading in the House of Lords on the 10th November. After this, the Consideration of Amendments, or ‘ping-pong’, stage will happen.
Justifying harm with a promise of off-site compensation would be catastrophic for species. We support Amendment 130 for bats but also for wider wildlife and the UK’s biodiversity targets.
Make your MP aware of just how important this amendment is and why they should support it.