Spring Statement: Chancellor unveils biodiversity plans and low-carbon homes requirements
13 March 2019
BREAKING: Chancellor Philip Hammond has today (13 March) pledged to implement legislation requiring developers to deliver biodiversity net-gain through all projects in his 2019 Spring Statement, which also includes a review into the economic benefits of environmental conservation.
The Spring Statement, unveiled today (13 March), was delivered by Hammond against a tumultuous political backdrop. Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement was defeated in the Commons by 149 votes and MPs are currently voting on whether to leave the European Union (EU) under a “no deal” scenario.
Many experts predict that a no-deal departure creates more risk for the UK economy. But with the main budget now held in Autumn, Hammond has instead been able to use his Spring Statement to outline various policy reviews.
As well as pledges to exempt PhD-level roles from the visa caps and offer free sanitary products to colleges, the Spring Statement includes a major global review into the economic value of biodiversity, including the financial risks of its decline and rewards of its stewardship.
