Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unblocked a development of 20,000 homes in Sussex that was stalled due to a protected snail species, after a developer with whom she has a 'good relationship' brought the issue to her attention. Speaking at the JP Morgan Tech Stars conference on Tuesday, Reeves described the blockage as being caused by 'some snails that are a protected species or something', adding that they were 'microscopic snails you cannot even see'. The species in question is believed to be the little whirlpool ramshorn snail, a rare 5mm creature that indicates clean water.
Reeves told the audience: 'We knew about that issue because we’ve got a good relationship with the developer and he brought it to our attention. I didn’t just use it as an example of how bad things were but set about fixing it.' She asked attendees not to disclose the news before Thursday or Friday, when the government plans to announce the development. The chancellor's comments come as the government pushes planning reforms that could weaken EU-derived habitats regulations protecting rare species.
Environmental groups have criticised the move. Craig Bennett, CEO of the Wildlife Trusts, said: 'It is shocking to hear the chancellor boast allowing people with privileged access to try and circumvent processes put in place by parliament, and to hear the way she dismisses ecological science as if it doesn’t matter.' Alexa Culver, a planning lawyer at RSK Wilding, added: 'Thousands of jobs in the UK planning system are designed to balance competing needs of developers and the wider public, who rely on nature for a meaningful existence.'
A Treasury spokesperson said the recording was from a private event, adding: 'This government is reforming the outdated planning system that’s been holding this country back – so we can build the 1.5m homes and infrastructure that hardworking people need.'
