Uk ministers meet developers ‘dozens of times’ but shut out ecologists

A concerning pattern of access has emerged around the UK Labour government’s controversial planning reforms, with developers enjoying extensive ministerial meetings while environmental experts remain locked out of discussions.

Since the government published its planning and infrastructure bill in March—legislation aimed at fast-tracking the construction of 1.5 million new homes—Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook have held numerous meetings with developers. The contrast is stark: while property developers have secured “dozens” of face-to-face meetings with key decision-makers, the professional body representing ecologists has been denied even a single ministerial meeting despite multiple requests.

This unequal access comes as environmental campaigners raise urgent concerns about the bill’s potential impact on wildlife and natural habitats. Leading ecologists warn that their expertise and warnings about threats to biodiversity are being systematically ignored in the government’s drive to boost economic growth through accelerated development.

The revelations highlight a fundamental imbalance in who gets heard when major environmental policies are being shaped. As the legislation moves through Parliament, campaigners are making final attempts to secure meaningful protections for nature in what they see as their last opportunity to influence the bill. The situation raises serious questions about whether environmental considerations are being adequately weighed against development pressures in one of Labour’s flagship policy initiatives.