October 14th, 2026
Natural England’s changing role in planning limits environmental protection
The role of Natural England in the planning system is changing. Under new provisions introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, Natural England is no longer required to respond to certain requests for advice on development proposals.
The changes come in the context of a wider political narrative that has increasingly portrayed environmental protections as obstacles to development.
What has changed?
Section 57 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 removes Natural England’s duty to respond to certain requests for planning advice from public authorities, including local planning authorities. In practical terms, this means Natural England now has less discretion over which planning applications it provides detailed advice on.
In an Operational Statement published on 1 October 2026, Natural England confirmed that it will increasingly rely on existing guidance rather than providing individual responses to routine planning applications. Its specialist advice will be prioritised for developments that could significantly affect nationally or internationally protected nature sites or protected landscapes.
Importantly, the changes do not remove Natural England’s separate statutory consultation responsibilities or the existing legal protections for habitats and species.
Why does this matter?
Natural England plays an important role in ensuring that environmental considerations are properly reflected in planning decisions. Its role as a regulator bringing independent expertise can help local authorities identify environmental risks, assess potential harm and ensure that developments comply with environmental law. An objection from NE holds weight.
There is a reasonable argument for concentrating limited resources on the most environmentally sensitive developments. But there is also a risk that environmental harm outside the most heavily protected sites will receive less scrutiny, leaving local authorities to make complex decisions without specialist input.
This is particularly concerning at a time when many protected nature sites are already in unfavourable condition, and questions remain about the monitoring and designation of sites requiring protection.
What happens next?
Natural England has committed to prioritising advice where development is likely to cause significant harm to nationally or internationally designated sites or protected landscapes. We welcome that commitment and will be watching closely to see how it is delivered in practice.
However, protecting nature requires more than responding to the most serious threats. It also requires effective oversight, early intervention and recognition of the cumulative impacts of development on the wider natural environment.
The real test of these reforms will be whether Natural England can use its more targeted approach to deliver stronger environmental outcomes, or whether this becomes another step towards weakening nature’s most important regulator, removing the independent scrutiny that nature urgently needs.