Jason spoke in the chamber today to ask the Housing Minister how planning policy can protect ancient woodland.

Jason McCartney MP 

According to the Woodland Trustā€™s ā€œState of the UKā€™s Woods and Treesā€ report, 1,225 ancient woods across the UK are under threat from development, and the number of ancient woods being damaged by development continues to increase. 

How will the MHCLG strengthen planning policy further to properly protect this irreplaceable habitat? 

Robert Jenrick MP

I was pleased to read of the Woodland Trustā€™s recent campaign. My Department received over 10,000 postcards from supporters of the trust, which I have had the pleasure of looking over in recent months.

We have proposed changes to the national planning policy framework to set an expectation that all new residential streets will be lined with trees. This builds on previous changes to the framework whereby we strengthened protections for ancient woods and trees. My right hon. Friend the Environment Secretary will shortly publish further details of our wider cross-Government commitment.

 

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General Election Update from Jason McCartney

Thank you to the 14,007 local people who voted for me on 4th July. Sadly it wasnā€™t enough for me to be re-elected as the MP for the Colne & Holme valleys and Lindley.