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Promises to improve nature are being broken by English house builders

In spite of policies requiring housing projects in England to benefit nature, many of the trees, habitats and nest boxes included in planning applications haven't materialised

By Madeleine Cuff

15 May 2025

House builders in England are required to create benefits for nature
Shutterstock / Jevanto Productions

Housing developers in England are failing to deliver biodiversity measures required under their planning conditions, with developments routinely missing the woodland planting, wildflower grasslands, hedgehog highways and bat boxes promised by firms.

Since last year, housing developers are required to deliver a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity or habitat for all new projects in England. Prior to this, earlier policies also encouraged developers to enhance nature in various ways.

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