The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has now reached the Royal Assent stage, and one of its most significant changes is the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs). This new framework is designed to streamline environmental mitigation while enabling sustainable housing and infrastructure growth.
What are EDPs?
EDPs are 10-year, area-based plans currently being prepared by Natural England and will be formally made by the Secretary of State.
Each plan will:
- Identify environmental features likely to be negatively affected by development.
- Set out conservation measures Natural England will take to protect those features.
- Specify the nature restoration levy payable by developers to fund these measures.
- Clarify which environmental obligations can be discharged, disapplied, or modified if the levy is paid.
Nature Restoration Fund
Instead of delivering site-specific mitigation, developers will have the option to pay into a central Nature Restoration Fund (NRF). This fund will pool resources to implement EDPs at a landscape scale, aiming for better long-term environmental outcomes. Whether participation is mandatory or optional will depend on the details of Natural England’s forthcoming EDPs.
What will this look like?
The full picture is still emerging. Early indications suggest the levy system could operate similarly to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), but the specifics will be set out in secondary legislation.
Stakeholder sessions are already underway, and the Solent Mitigation Partnership is actively contributing to these discussions.
Why it matters
This new approach offers exciting opportunities:
- Coordinated nature recovery at scale.
- Faster housing delivery through streamlined processes.
- Joined-up environmental initiatives feeding into regional planning.
If implemented well, EDPs could deliver better, more strategic outcomes for both development and the environment.
More details to follow soon – watch this space!
