A major row has erupted in Westminster after the government quietly granted itself sweeping powers to cut down trees on the historic House of Lords estate. The move, buried within a wider planning bill, has been branded an act of 'environmental vandalism' and a blatant power grab that sidesteps local authority oversight.
The controversial clause, part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' annual review bill, specifically removes the requirement for the government to seek planning permission from Westminster City Council for 'the felling, lopping or trimming of trees' within the parliamentary estate's boundaries.
Peers React with Fury and Disbelief
The revelation has provoked fury among members of the upper house. Green Party peer, Baroness Jenny Jones, led the condemnation, stating the move was discovered almost by accident. "They are taking the power to be able to cut down trees without any reference to the local authority... It's a sort of environmental vandalism clause", she declared.
Crossbench peer and environmentalist, Lord Randall of Uxbridge, expressed his profound disappointment, suggesting the government was attempting to avoid potential 'embarrassment' from council refusals. The strength of feeling was so intense that it prompted a rare apology from a government minister for the manner in which the clause was introduced.
Minister's Apology Fails to Quell the Storm
Baroness Scott of Bybrook, the minister responsible, offered an apology to the House for not providing advance warning of the clause's inclusion. She insisted the powers were merely a practical measure to align tree management on the estate with other Crown properties and were not intended for large-scale felling.
However, her assurances did little to calm the opposition. Critics remain deeply suspicious of the government's motives, questioning why such a power was necessary if not to facilitate tree removal that would otherwise be blocked. The government's commitment to a meeting with concerned peers is now seen as a crucial next step in resolving the dispute.
A Symptom of a Wider Issue?
This incident raises broader questions about transparency and the government's approach to environmental protection. The attempt to push through such a clause without consultation has been seen by many as indicative of a dismissive attitude towards local democracy and green policies.
The battle for the trees in the House of Lords courtyard has become a symbolic fight, highlighting the ongoing tension between development and conservation in the heart of the UK's democracy.
