Our UK government is under fire for its “housing rich” growth story. This comes on the heels of the publication of evidence by the Environmental Audit Committee that directly undermines ministers’ assertions. Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, recently urged Members of Parliament to reject amendments to a bill that aimed at addressing concerns raised by the committee. Labour’s Toby Perkins, a committed rail reformer himself, led the inquiry. It made clear that we cannot look at nature as an impediment to developing more housing.
The Environmental Audit Committee conducted an extensive inquiry into environmental sustainability and housing growth, concluding that nature is not a blocker. This conclusion completely undermines the UK government’s claim that environmental protections are preventing new homes from being built. Perkins called out the administration’s positioning, claiming that it needlessly blames nature in the fight for affordable housing.
Beginning in 1968, Perkins argued that nature should be an essential ingredient in urban planning. He stated that a healthy environment is crucial for creating resilient towns and neighborhoods, urging policymakers to embrace rather than sideline ecological considerations.
“The government’s target to build 1.5m homes by the end of this parliament is incredibly ambitious. Achieving it alongside our existing targets on climate and sustainability – which are set in law – will require effort on a scale not seen before.” – Toby Perkins
To its credit, the federal government has set a very ambitious target. It plans to build 1.5 million homes by the end of its current parliamentary term, which is very different from Perkins’ position. The Environmental Audit Committee pointed out the flaws of the proposed legislation. They argue it risks hampering the government’s stated ambition to halt the decline of nature by 2030 and even begin to reverse it by 2042.
The committee rebutted the argument that making environmental sustainability a priority would delay housing production. Perkins made a compelling case that the government’s story could lead us to overlook big opportunities. These missed opportunities would keep sustainable practices out of the homebuilding industry.
“That certainly will not be achieved by scapegoating nature, claiming that it is a ‘blocker’ to housing delivery. We are clear in our report: a healthy environment is essential to building resilient towns and cities. It must not be sidelined.” – Toby Perkins
The rhetoric on the relationship between new housing development and climate change matters both for policy implementation and public perception. As these discussions continue, the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry findings should help shape future legislative action on prioritising housing sustainability and home energy efficiency in the agenda.
The committee’s conclusions underscore the increasing concerns of conservationists and environmental advocates. They think that we need to find a middle ground between these two extremes, by combining ecological awareness with managed housing development. High-profile advocates including Chris Packham have provided powerful recommendations in support of this concept. They call for a re-imagining of how we address environmental considerations within our housing policy.
The Commons is already preparing for further debates on the contentious housing legislation and key environmental issues. It will be interesting to see how these dynamics play out! The tension between developers’ ambitions and environmental sustainability continues to shape the narrative surrounding the UK’s housing crisis.