UK government admits almost no evidence nature protections block development

Officials said there was ‘very limited data’ on how environmental obligations affect development. Photograph: Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock

There is very little evidence that protections for nature are a blocker to development, the government has admitted in its own impact assessment of the controversial new planning and infrastructure bill.

The analysis by Whitehall officials provides no data or research to back up the government’s central argument that it is environmental legislation that holds up building.