For reference, here's what the Budget 2012 report, just published, says about Habitats and Wild Bird Directives
"The Government has also completed a review of the implementation in England of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives, to be published on 22 March 2012. Following this review, the Government will reduce unnecessary cost and delay to developers by: setting up a Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit; streamlining guidance; setting clearer standards for evidence; and changing the culture of statutory bodies."
"2.241 Habitats Directive – The Government will reduce the cost, complexity and delay to businesses that the Habitats Directive can impose by preparing streamlined guidance, setting clearer standards for evidence and improving the customer focus of the statutory bodies. The Government will also establish a Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit to engage at an early stage with nationally significant infrastructure projects on potential Habitats Directive issues, ensuring evidence plans are agreed upfront and identifying where imperative reasons of over-riding public interest may apply."
One reads this with a good deal of foreboding. One cannot but conclude it heralds much in the way of campaigning and protesting if wildlife and its habitats are not all to be literally bulldozed at the alter of so called sustainable growth which no doubt will not be so.