Environmental sustainability and housing growth

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 18 Nov 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee is seeking views on how the Government’s proposed reforms to national planning policy and housebuilding targets might affect environmental protections and current approaches to sustainable development.Read the terms of reference and find out how to submit written evidence through the Committee's evidence portal here . Read more
45 Recommendations
22 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
2 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
13 Mar
2026
Report published
11 Mar
2026
Correspondence
26 Feb
2026
Correspondence
16 Nov
2025
Report published
21 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
21 Jul
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
30 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
30 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
4 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
4 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
7 May
2025
Oral evidence
7 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
21 Jul 2025
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Mary Creagh MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Matthew Pennycook MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Nick Barter · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs William Burgon · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
30 Jun 2025
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Panel 1
Eamonn Boylan · Homes England Marian Spain · Natural England Philip Duffy · Environment Agency
4 Jun 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Brian Berry · Federation of Master Builders David King · Meadfleet Dr Rufus Howard · Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment Emma Toovey · Environment Bank Niall McGann · Fexco Sue Searle · Ecology Training UK
7 May 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Ashley Spearing · Berkeley Group Ben Murphy · The Duchy of Cornwall Chris Thompson · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Kenny Duncan · Crest Nicholson
5 Feb 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Ben Kite · Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Charlotte Neal · Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Dr Iain Boulton · Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) Dr John Martin · School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth Dr Victoria Hills · Royal Town Planning Institute Sarah Postlethwaite · North Northamptonshire Council
15 Jan 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Alistair Smyth · National Housing Federation Becky Pullinger · The Wildlife Trusts Charles Trew · Shelter Ed Lockhart · Future Homes Hub Erika Lewis · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Professor Rokia Raslan · University College London
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Environmental sustainability and housing growth HC 439 16 Nov 2025 67 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
Clear
34 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Assess local authority capacity for monitoring BNG commitments and ensure adequate resourcing.
The Government should conduct an assessment of the capacity and performance of monitoring of BNG commitments by local authorities. Local authorities must understand their responsibilities to ensure that BNG promised is delivered and buy in expertise and resource if it … Read more
Government Response
The government states it continues to work with stakeholders to strengthen the planning workforce and already supports local planning authorities with ecology through existing recruitment, skills development, and specialist training programs, but does not commit to conducting a specific assessment of BNG monitoring capacity or new accountability measures.
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40 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets and set timeframe for mandatory whole-life carbon assessments.
Additionally: a. “We recommend that following the introduction of whole life carbon assessments, the Government should develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets for the built environment, to match the pathway to net zero set out in periodic carbon budgets. These ratcheting … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it has already set legally binding carbon reduction targets and that it must be able to meet those targets in the round.
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49 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Consult by April 2026 on financial incentives for lower embodied carbon products and manufacturing.
The Government could also consider other financial incentives in product areas where the cost differential makes adoption of lower embodied carbon products unattractive and support for manufacturing set up of lower embodied carbon products. We recommend that the Government consult, … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is already exploring financial mechanisms such as the Advance Market Commitment pilot for low carbon concrete.
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50 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Retrofitting existing buildings offers more sustainable and environmentally friendly housing solutions.
Retrofitting existing buildings is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than demolition and new construction. We accept that not all existing properties can be converted into residential buildings, and do not deny that some new homes do need to be built. … Read more
Government Response
The government says that retrofitting and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy through a consultation on a new NPPF and the VAT system.
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51 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Prioritise strengthening policy focus on building retrofit and regeneration due to environmental benefits.
Although retrofit and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy, it is often sidelined. Strengthening focus in this area should be prioritised, considering the range of benefits associated with doing so. (Conclusion, Paragraph 167)
Government Response
The government says that retrofitting and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy through a consultation on a new NPPF and the VAT system.
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53 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Investigate using the tax system to incentivise carbon footprint reduction in existing properties.
As with the embodied and operational carbon recommendation (Para 138nb mbnj ) we believe that the Government should investigate how it can use the tax system to reduce the tax burden on properties that reduce their carbon footprint and/or increase … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of reusing existing buildings and already encourages this through the VAT system on residential renovations. The government has also given local authorities powers and incentives to tackle empty homes.
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54 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Ensure local planning authorities are adequately resourced to hire and train ecological experts.
One of the strongest messages we have heard throughout this inquiry is that local planning authorities are severely under-resourced in terms of ecological expertise. Addressing this should be a priority, as without rapid and meaningful support, the Government will struggle … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that ecological expertise is critical in the planning system and outlines the actions it is already taking through additional investment and the Planning Capacity and Capability Programme to strengthen skills across the system.
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55 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Invest in ecology training and establish local ecological resource hubs by July 2026.
We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, … Read more
Government Response
The government believes existing investments in planning capacity, including funding for skills development, recruitment of ecologists, and support for environmental arm's-length bodies, make ecological resource hubs unnecessary, though they will keep the position under review.
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56 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Ecology qualifications often lack sufficient practical elements for professional practice.
Qualifications in ecology may not always contain sufficient practical elements in the courses that equip future ecologists with the necessary skills for professional practice. The Committee has heard that some students may require additional training to develop the necessary competencies … Read more
Government Response
The government does not consider establishing separate ecological resource hubs is necessary, citing existing investments and close work with the sector to monitor capacity.
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57 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Standardise and embed essential practical components into ecology course design by April 2026.
We recommend that the Government, via Skills England, begins working with ecology qualification providers to standardise and embed essential practical components into ecology course design, by April 2026. This is to ensure that courses are geared towards modern policy demands … Read more
Government Response
The government asserts that it already supports local planning authorities with ecology through recruitment, skills development and specialist training, referencing a previous response.
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58 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Establish a national pathway with professional bodies to accelerate early-career ecologist training.
The Government should partner with professional bodies to accelerate the training of early-career ecologists through a national level, government- supported pathway, similar to that of the Pathways to Planning programme backed by the Local Government Association and MHCLG. The first … Read more
Government Response
The government states they are already expanding national routes into planning and related environmental roles and do not consider a separate, ecology-specific national pathway necessary at this time, but will keep this under review.
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59 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Shortage of planning professionals undermines local authorities' effective planning system functioning.
The shortage of planning professionals in local authorities is undermining the planning system’s ability to function effectively. Planning officers are unable to thoroughly consider applications within statutory timeframes and are unable to adequately pre-consult. This capacity gap compromises the quality, … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that ecological expertise is critical in the planning system and outlines the actions it is already taking through additional investment and the Planning Capacity and Capability Programme to strengthen skills across the system.
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63 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Construction industry lacks sufficient workforce and skills to meet housing and net zero targets
We have heard concerns that the construction industry does not have the numbers, nor the skills, needed to deliver the volume or types of homes that will enable the Government to meet its targets for housing, the environment, nature and … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the concerns, and states that Skills England publishes assessments of priority skills, and a Construction Jobs Plan is being developed. The government also says it is investing £15bn in home upgrades via its Warm Homes Plan and has made several policy commitments to address skills gaps.
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64 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Government has not adequately demonstrated future construction workforce skills for housing and environment targets
However, we are yet to be convinced that this alone will be enough. As the Government itself has acknowledged, the construction sector will be instrumental in meeting wider Government commitments. Recruiting new talent is essential but training takes time and, … Read more
Government Response
The government describes existing actions to address skills gaps in the construction sector, including skills assessments, a Construction Jobs Plan, funding for skills, and investment in home upgrades, in response to concerns about the workforce's ability to meet housing and environmental targets.
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65 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Provide realistic assessment of construction workforce numbers and skills needed for housing and climate targets
We recommend that the Government, in response to this report, should: • Provide a realistic assessment of the construction workforce and what is needed to deliver the Government’s housing targets for each remaining year of this Parliament. This should include: … Read more
Government Response
The government states that Skills England publishes assessments of priority skills needed across the economy to 2030, including construction and housebuilding and mentions additional funding and plans addressing skills gaps.
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66 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Natural England lacks adequate resources to deliver government environmental objectives and expectations
If the environmental objectives of the Government are to be achieved, it is vital that Natural England (NE) is adequately resourced. However, NE does not currently have the necessary resources to deliver the Government’s expectations of it. Its reliance on … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it has allocated funding to set up the Nature Restoration Fund and further funding to boost capacity in the planning system, and will continue to work with Natural England to ensure appropriate resources are in place.
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67 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Environmental sustain…
Publish paper detailing Natural England's required resourcing to deliver housing targets by March 2026
The Government should publish a paper, by March 2026, clearly laying out the Government’s housing targets, NE’s role as a statutory consultee and in developing and implementing the NRF, and what resourcing will be required for NE going forwards to … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the Planning and Infrastructure Act establishes Natural England’s role in developing and implementing the NRF and mentions funding allocated to set up and support the NRF.
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Government Response AI assessment · 67 of 45 classified
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 10
Not Addressed 31
Rejected 5
Total 45 recs + 22 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
11 Mar 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning relating to the government response to the committee following the publication of the Environmental Sustainability and Housing Growth report, 4 March 2026
Parliament page
26 Feb 2026 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to the Government response to the Environmental Audit Committee report on Environmental sustainability and housing growth, 25 February 2026
Parliament page