Don't blame the bats for HS2's blunders

clock • 4 min read

When nature considerations are designed in from the start, it saves developers time, money and reputations, writes Sally Hayns, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

The so-called 'bat tunnel' built for HS2 at Sheephouse Wood has become a convenient punchline. To some, it symbolises all that is wrong with environmental regulation – costly, bureaucratic, hostile to...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Biodiversity

Biodiversity Net Gain: Hundreds of firms warn proposed rule changes would mark 'backwards step'

Biodiversity Net Gain: Hundreds of firms warn proposed rule changes would mark 'backwards step'

More than 140 firms and experts join growing calls warning government not to press ahead with reforms that would scale back flagship nature recovery scheme

Michael Holder
clock 16 December 2025 • 6 min read
How can sustainability professionals quantify biodiversity loss?

How can sustainability professionals quantify biodiversity loss?

Partner Insight: Ørsted’s new biodiversity framework helps businesses protect natural habitats

Ørsted
clock 11 December 2025 • 1 min read
Step Up for Nature: SBTN announces first cohort of companies to join new nature initiative

Step Up for Nature: SBTN announces first cohort of companies to join new nature initiative

Growing list of companies share their timelines and plans for delivering on science-based nature targets

clock 04 December 2025 • 2 min read