Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Investment Zones: Impact on the Environment

Monday 17 October 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues assessed that investment zones will maintain strong environmental outcomes and adhere to national green belt policies.
  • The Minister confirmed the Government's commitment to uphold all existing environmental protections on the statute books.
  • The Minister stated that the 10% biodiversity net gain requirement from the Environment Act 2021 would not be rolled back by proposed planning reforms in investment zones.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Edwards
Economy Local Government Environment
Context

The question is prompted by concerns over potential environmental impacts of proposed investment zones.

Question

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of investment zones on the environment?

Answer from Lee Rowley

Investment zones seek to empower communities to deliver planning and outcomes that are right for the local area, while maintaining strong environmental outcomes and keeping national green belt policies in place. They are about working with local areas, and we look forward to receiving applications from Wales in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific impact assessment requested but not provided

How: Maintaining Strong Environmental Outcomes, Working With Local Areas

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Q2 Craig Williams Con
Environment
Context

Concerns over the maintenance of existing environmental protections under proposed investment zones.

Question

The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are seeking reassurances about all the environmental protections currently on the statute books. Will the Minister confirm these protections will be upheld?

Answer from Lee Rowley

We are absolutely committed to strong environmental outcomes, as I am happy to repeat and as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already said. We look forward to applications from Montgomeryshire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific confirmation requested but not provided

How: Absolutely Committed To Strong Environmental Outcomes

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Q3 Ruth Edwards
Environment
Context

Concern over potential rollback of biodiversity net gain requirements in proposed planning system reforms, including investment zones.

Question

Can the Minister give me an absolute promise that none of the proposed reforms to the planning system, including in the investment zones, will row back on the Government's 10% biodiversity net gain requirement as enshrined in our landmark Environment Act 2021?

Answer from Lee Rowley

As my hon. Friend knows, that biodiversity net gain does not come in for some time yet. It could be that, depending on the applications received for investment zones, the planning permissions will have gone through, or be in the process of going through, under the existing planning process. However, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have repeated at the Dispatch Box, and as is clear within the expression of interest guidance on investment zones, we are committed to strong environmental outcomes in those areas and across the planning system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment requested but not provided

How: Committed To Strong Environmental Outcomes, Expression Of Interest Guidance

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