Conservatives say they will abolish Environment Agency, Natural England and affordable‑homes rules

The Conservative party will propose abolishing the Environment Agency and Natural England and removing planning rules that oblige developers to provide affordable homes and community funding, the party's shadow chancellor said on Sunday.

Andrew Griffith told reporters the party intends to “streamline regulations” that currently protect nature and require developers to include affordable housing and community services such as GP surgeries. He framed the measures as part of an effort to speed up infrastructure delivery and housebuilding and to refocus policy on economic growth.

What the party will change

Griffith presented the planned moves as a wider roll-back of regulation. According to the party announcement reported by the Guardian, the package would include:

• Abolishing the Environment Agency;
• Abolishing Natural England; and
• Scrapping planning rules that require developers to provide affordable homes and community funding (including facilities such as GP surgeries).

The shadow chancellor described the intent as streamlining protections and obligations that he said are slowing development and infrastructure projects.

Context and significance

The measures are presented by the Conservatives as a central element of a strategy to refocus the party on growth and to accelerate housebuilding and infrastructure delivery. The proposed abolition of two major public bodies responsible for environmental regulation and conservation represents a significant shift in the role of state institutions in overseeing development and nature protection.

Removing obligations for affordable housing and community contributions would alter the way new housing schemes are planned and funded, shifting the onus away from mandated developer contributions toward other mechanisms the party may propose. Griffith linked these changes explicitly to speeding up projects, citing the need to remove what he described as regulatory barriers.

What is not yet detailed

Reports do not set out how the functions currently carried out by the Environment Agency and Natural England would be replaced or restructured, nor do they specify alternative arrangements for ensuring environmental protections or securing community benefits in new developments. The coverage also does not include detailed legislative timetables or the financial implications of abolishing the agencies and changing planning obligations.

Why it matters

The Environment Agency and Natural England play central roles in environmental regulation, flood risk management and conservation. Altering their status would affect how environmental safeguards are enforced and may change the balance between development priorities and nature protection. Likewise, removing requirements for affordable housing and community facilities could reshape funding for local services and the composition of new housing developments.