In a policy paper, called the ‘Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery’, a new “nature restoration fund” is being tabled to help developers engage with specific environmental impacts.

Currently, developers need to secure mitigation for environmental harm before being granted planning permission.

However, developers would need to contribute to the fund.

The proposals would see delivery plans required to identify environmental impacts for a given development, with the paper adding: “Where a delivery plan has established a robust delivery pathway, we will create a mechanism to secure contributions from developers to fully fund the actions it identifies.”

It added: “On submitting a planning application, the developer commits to making a Nature Restoration Fund payment prior to commencement of works.”

This will also see more direct involvement from the government.

According to the proposals, under the approach, delivery plans will be required specific to a given area and the environmental risks around this.

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This delivery plan would include the interventions required to accommodate an agreed level of development, with those interventions linked to incremental phases of delivery — this would also include costings for the interventions, and a draft tariff to fund their delivery.

The delivery plan would be considered and signed off by the Secretary of State. Interventions identified in the delivery plan may commence in advance of development coming forward.

Developers will be able to access an online map, in advance of submitting their planning application. They would also be able to access a breakdown of the required contribution.

Commenting on its launch, deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner said this was about stripping away “unnecessary barriers” to growth.

“For years, vital housing and infrastructure projects have been tied up in red tape leaving communities without the homes, infrastructure and jobs they need,” she said.

“It's a win-win for development and our environment, including targeted reforms allowing us to use the economic benefits of growth to fund tangible and targeted action for nature’s recovery.”

Elsewhere, the government plan to lead single strategic assessments and delivery plans for a given area, no individual sites, which would allow decisions to be made at scale.

If taken forward, the government plans to use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to implement any legislative changes.