Conservatives blame regulators for delays despite overseeing huge cuts

The Conservative Party has today announced that it is to scrap the Environment Agency and Natural England, bringing both fully into Defra supposedly in an effort to bring down planning delays and boost growth.

This is part of a “bonfire of regulation” they are announcing at Conservative Conference in Birmingham  including abolishing affordable homes and community funding rules.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“It is ridiculous for the Conservatives to blame environmental regulators for the housing crisis, especially when its own MPs are often among the most vociferous opponents of new housing developments.

“The reality is that Conservative budget cuts have left these regulators struggling to perform their vital functions with “lack of resources” the most common reason for planning delays. The solution is to restore their funding to adequate levels, not scrap vital safeguards, as both the Corry and Fingleton reviews recommended.

“This announcement is further proof that the politics of deregulation are a dead end, offering no solution to the challenges this country faces while putting safety and the environment at risk.”