Planning policy in England is under review

New planning guidance threatens ancient woodland and ancient trees, giving a blank cheque to the axe man.

You helped to ensure that specific protection measures for irreplaceable habitats including ancient woodland remained in the draft National Planning Policy Framework, known as the NPPF.

But a damaging loophole also remained. A caveat in protection which has brought about the loss of ancient woodland in more than 65% of our threat cases over the last decade. Given the Framework's wider context of a default 'yes' to development, this is extremely worrying.

Thank you for taking action!

The public consultation on the NPPF closed on October 17th. 

We received over 19,000 responses in this campaign - you used our guidance to respond to the consultation, talked to your MP about your local concerns and responded to our poll about the level of protection measures you want ancient woodland to have.

Your responses helped shape the Trust's official submission to this consultation.

 Woodland Trust response to the draft NPPF

The Government's findings are due early next year.

More about this campaign:

 Read our blog

The planning system should protect ancient woodland from this....  (Image: WTPL (click to enlarge)) 
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