Over the last few weeks we’ve been reacting to the UK Government’s #AttackOnNature and sharing our concerns about what it might mean for nature in Scotland. You’ve asked for some for more information, so we’ll be sharing some explainers on different topics over the coming weeks. This week, we shed some light on what we know about the UK Government’s proposed Investment Zones and what they might mean for nature in Scotland.
What are Investment Zones?
Investment Zones are defined as areas that involve tax incentives and relaxed planning rules, to “release more land” for housing and commercial development. The creation of Investment Zones was one of several announcements made by the UK Government in September as part of their proposed Growth Plan to speed up the delivery of development and boost the economy. This raft of announcements signalled an unprecedented attack on nature. If given the go-ahead, the relaxed rules and economy-driven incentives associated with Investment Zones could weaken and bypass vital legal protections for nature, meaning further loss, and further degradation of some of our most important legally protected sites for nature. However, it remains unclear if the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, will take forward his predecessor’s proposals to implement Investment Zones.
Where will Investment Zones be? So far, the UK Government has agreed in principle to the creation of 38 Investment Zones across England’s local authorities, and further talks will begin to identify Investment Zones in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. This could mean the areas included in Investment Zones will cover legally protected areas for nature, see the map here of proposed Investment Zones in England in relation to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). With a new Prime Minister and cabinet at Westminster, no further announcements have been made as to where the Investment Zones will be in Scotland, or how these will be decided.
What are the risks to nature if Investment Zones are given the go-ahead? Given the crucial role of the Habitats Regulations in Scotland to ensure new developments such as housing, renewable energy and transport infrastructure, as well as other types of development, do not damage our most important wildlife sites, we are extremely concerned that if Investment Zones are given the go-ahead, the relaxation of planning powers that might come to fruition could dismantle key protections for wildlife of international importance in Scotland. However, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated the Scottish Government will engage in exploratory discussions following this announcement by the UK Government, and added any zones must be firmly in the interests of the Scottish people and economy, and must be created through partnership working between Scottish and UK Governments that ultimately respects the devolution settlement, given the zones will relate to planning and environmental protections which are devolved powers to Scotland. RSPB Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government’s reassurance and ambition to remain aligned with EU level environmental protections, as well as their recent statement that any model for investment zones must “reflect the Scottish economic policy and governance landscape.” Therefore, there is a clear onus on both the Scottish and UK governments to collectively ensure Investment Zones are not delivered at the expense of vital nature and climate action.
What next?
Since the initial Growth Plan announcements in September, there has been no formal announcements with regard to Investment Zones. However, recent press reports suggest Investment Zones are to be reviewed and could be shelved according to newly appointed Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, though this is not set in stone. Gove further stated that the UK Government would not undermine protections for the environment. We will keep a close eye on decisions and developments at Westminster on this issue.
We need your help to stop this Attack on Nature
We are facing an unprecedented nature and climate emergency. We need your help to show Scotland and the UK’s decision makers that an attack on nature is an attack on our health, our wellbeing, and our very survival. Join us and over 100,000 others to stop this attack on nature.
If given the green light drift boss, Investment Zones' loose regulations and economic incentives might undermine and circumvent crucial legal protections for nature, leading to additional loss and deterioration of some of our most significant legally protected places for nature.