planning
Government urged to create 'wild belt' nature recovery areas as part of planning reforms
Charity the Wildlife Trusts warns government's current planning reform proposals risk undermining efforts to protect nature and biodiversity
Power and planning
The government's new planning reforms could unleash a new wave of essential green infrastructure or scar the UK with car-dependent suburban sprawl – and it is too early to tell which
Government vows to make all new homes 'zero carbon ready', but campaigners fear disaster for nature
Ministers unveil long-awaited proposals to streamline planning system, sparking fierce criticism from environmental and housing groups
Defra plots green planning rules overhaul as it promises nature-friendly recovery
Environment Secretary George Eustice announces £9m for policy pilots as he promises to 'build back greener' after Covid-19 and Brexit
Government to ease energy storage planning woes
Ministers hope that move to cut red tape and streamline planning processes could help treble UK energy storage capacity
Government urged to 'unleash potential of the countryside' in recovery plans
CPRE urges government to put in place net zero targets for land-use, invest in nature restoration, and ensure planning system considers climate impacts
Legal challenge launched against government's 'outdated' energy planning policies
Campaigners hope precedent set by high profile Heathrow ruling could force government into a rethink over continued support for new fossil fuel projects
Council reject plans to expand Bristol Airport after climate criticism
North Somerset Councillors voted to against plans to expand Airport's capacity from 10 to 12 million, citing environmental concerns
ClientEarth puts councils 'on notice' over climate inaction
Campaigning climate lawyers warn they will bring legal challenges against councils who fail to demonstrate action to tackle the climate emergency
Government warned net zero will be impossible without more support for local planners
Government must give local planning authorities more power and money to enable carbon neutral buildings and infrastructure systems if UK is to meet net zero target, industry group warns
Housebuilders urged to avoid 'unnecessary loss of habitats' amid netting uproar
Government warns developers as Norfolk council attracts criticism for cliff-face nets which prevent birds from nesting
CPRE: Brownfield land could deliver one million new homes
Derelict and vacant land could be used to regenerate towns and cities, while minimising environmental impacts
'Take heed of science': minister urged to drop new coal-mining plans
Druridge Bay project makes mockery of UK's goal to phase out coal by 2025, say critics
Wales rules out new coal mines and restricts fracking in favour of renewables
Welsh Government's new Planning Policy sets stringent limits on new fossil fuel extraction but promotes renewables and EV charge points
Government faces new legal challenge over plans to speed up fracking
Opponents say revised definition of fracking will allow energy firms to bypass planning rules
'Historic victory': Planning officals reject appeal over Welsh coal mine extension
Planning Inspectorate closes Miller Argent's appeal against decision to block Nant Llesg coal mine expansion
Government green lights second Cuadrilla fracking well
Drilling set to start within weeks, after government controversially signs off on latest fracking project
Planning tweak delivers 'glimmer of hope' for onshore wind repowering projects
Government revises National Planning Policy Framework to enable English local authorities to green light proposals to upgrade or repower existing wind farms
As demand for coal falls, it's time to finish the job on opencast
Friends of the Earth's Craig Bennett argues the justification for new coal mines is collapsing - it is time for the government to act
End coal mining in the UK, environmentalists urge government
Environmentalists have written to ministers, asking them to reform the planning system so that all future coal mines are automatically refused
Druridge Bay: Sajid Javid refuses coal mine planning permission citing climate concerns
Decision letter confirms that Secretary of State gave "very considerable weight" to greenhouse gas emissions that would result from controversial coal mine
Government delays decision on controversial Druridge Bay coal mine plans
BREAKING: On the day a long-awaited decision on future of plans for open cast coal mine was expected, government confirms it has deferred the ruling without setting a new deadline
Druridge Bay: Government urged to reject new coal mine or risk torching green credentials
EXCLUSIVE: Friends of the Earth writes to Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to warn approval for new open cast coal mine would be "entirely at odds with government's coal phase-out policy"
Fracking firm Cuadrilla given oil and gas go-ahead in West Sussex
County council grants temporary permission to fracking firm Cuadrilla for shale gas exploration in Balcombe, despite thousands of objections from local residents
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