Wildlife groups express alarm at plan to ‘streamline’ UK environmental rules

Government wants to spur economic growth and drive housebuilding but charities say nature should be priority

Wildlife groups have expressed alarm after ministers promised a radically “streamlined” approach to UK environmental regulation intended to drive economic growth and speed up new housing, as well as major projects such as airports.

While officials said the plans should boost nature conservation overall, the removal of what one called “bat by bat” decisions, a reference to the £100m bat shelter constructed for part of HS2, could water down individual protections.