Planning News 11 June 2026
New study links BNG reforms to reduced access to nature
Recent research from the Wildlife and Countryside Link has highlighted concerns that forthcoming changes to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements could disproportionately affect poorer communities.
In its report, The Green Gap, the organisation warns that proposed exemptions for smaller developments and brownfield sites could reduce access to nature in urban areas; widen existing inequalities. The report calls on the Government to reconsider the proposed changes, stating:
“In order to avoid the creation of widespread urban ecological deserts and protect access to nature for the most deprived communities, the Government must immediately drop its proposed brownfield exemption, tighten the de minimis threshold, and enact a legally binding five-year policy lock-in to protect BNG from further detrimental changes. Above all, we urge the Government to mandate a statutory Equality Impact Assessment for BNG frameworks to embed access to nature in planning policy.”
The debate follows Planning Portal research published earlier this year, which found that the proposed 0.2-hectare exemption would affect less than 1% of the total land area subject to BNG since the policy’s introduction. However, that same land area accounted for nearly half of all BNG applications submitted through the Planning Portal system up to that point – demonstrating the significant role of smaller sites in the enacting BNG policy.
This built on earlier research published by Planning Portal during the first year of mandatory BNG, which revealed unexpectedly high levels of exemption use, and highlighted some of the challenges smaller developers had faced in complying with the then-new requirements.
Commenting on the proposed 0.2-hectare threshold earlier this year, Planning Portal CEO Geoff Keal said:
“This move is a pragmatic recalibration of the BNG requirements to reduce the burden on developers of the smallest sites, while only removing a relatively small area of land from its scope…However, while the revised threshold may offer SMEs greater flexibility, maintaining the strategic focus on protecting and strengthening ecological connectivity remains essential. The Government’s moves to support smaller housing developers, alongside its prioritisation of urban brownfield land, may mean that small sites begin to represent a larger proportion of the total land subject to planning applications. In that case, we could start to see a greater percentage of land excluded from BNG.”
The latest findings from the Wildlife and Countryside Link add an important social dimension to the ongoing discussion around BNG reform. While delivering new homes and infrastructure remains a national priority, it is important that development supports the long-term wellbeing of local communities and protects access to nature for all.
As the debate continues, striking balance between accelerating development and maintaining positive environmental and social outcomes must remain a key focus for policymakers and the development sector alike.
Poor housing costs NHS £1.5bn a year, new report finds
A new report from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has suggested that poor-quality housing is costing the NHS in England an estimated £1.5 billion annually.
The report, Building Health into Homes, argues that housing should be treated as a core part of health and care policy rather than an additional consideration. It highlights how substandard housing is contributing to preventable illness, hospital admissions and long-term pressure on health services.
Key findings show that 3.5 million homes in England are classed as ‘non-decent’, affecting around 7.5 million people. It also found that 87% of homes fail to meet basic accessibility standards, with significant gaps in housing support for disabled and wheelchair users.
RCOT says occupational therapists can play a bigger role in preventing hospital admissions, reducing falls, and helping people live safely at home by working more closely across housing, health and social care services.
The report calls for stronger leadership across these sectors, earlier intervention on housing-related health risks, improved accessibility standards in new homes, and a better-trained workforce to deliver joined-up local solutions. RCOT is urging policymakers to recognise housing as a key driver of health outcomes, rather than something to address only when people reach crisis point.
You can read the full report here: Building Health into Homes | RCOT
Former power station site to deliver nearly 400 affordable homes
A major regeneration project has taken another step forward, with plans confirmed for 398 affordable homes on the former Rugeley Power Station site.
Developer Vistry and Housing Plus Group have signed an agreement to deliver the homes as part of a wider redevelopment that will transform the 139-hectare brownfield site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood. The project recently received planning permission for its first phase, which includes 547 homes, supporting infrastructure and public open space.
The wider masterplan will deliver around 2,000 homes, alongside a new school, riverside park, commercial space and community facilities. The redevelopment represents a significant example of brownfield regeneration, bringing a former coal-fired power station site back into productive use following its closure in 2016.
The scheme also highlights the role of partnerships between developers and housing associations in accelerating the delivery of affordable housing, while supporting wider government ambitions to increase housing supply and regenerate previously developed land.
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