Earlier today on BBC Radio 4, the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, responded to comments made in an earlier interview with Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts. The Minister spoke about the importance of giving local people access to green space and nature - stipulating that the UK Government not only supported development but nature's recovery too - and that nature should not be pitted against development as though it was a barrier to growth.

The UK Government has committed to meeting the international target - often referred to as 30by30 - to effectively conserve and manage 30% of the world's land, coastal and marine areas by 2030. This is an incredibly bold commitment, but to achieve it we need think bigger and better, especially when it comes to development.

Alongside stronger and more explicit planning protections for Local Wildlife Sites in the National Planning Policy Framework, we need a new designation of land - a wildbelt (read our policy briefing) - in England to support nature’s recovery. One that goes beyond protecting the nature we have, to protecting the space nature needs for the future. 

The Wildlife Trusts believe that a lot of the debate around brown field, green belt and grey belt misses the point - and that the development of a wildbelt cuts through a lot of these issues. People need to have  good quality nature close to where they live as it improves quality of life. From better mental and physical health to reduced flood risk - a wildbelt would help create communities that are nice places to live and invest in. This means switching the conversation away from simply the number of houses we need to build, to the quality of houses and communities that we want to create.

A well-resourced planning system that gives wildlife space to thrive can deliver win-wins for people, nature and the climate.