Richard Hebditch
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richard.hebditch.org
Richard Hebditch
@richard.hebditch.org
850 followers 480 following 2K posts
I'm a board member of London TravelWatch & coordinator of the Better Planning Coalition. Previously: charities streets transport heritage environment philanthropy
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Baroness Coffey used third reading to express concerns about how easily ministers are saying that legislation "will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection" statements (as required by s20 of Environment Act 2021) when evidence is that they do. (eg statement below)
November 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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Planning and Infrastructure Bill has just had its third reading in the Lords - now on to ping-pong with the Commons over the changes that peers made to it.

Minister keen to say that the latest compromise amendment won't affect the speed for developers in using new environmental delivery plans
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Just under six months to go until London borough elections. In the last 12 years, my borough (Lewisham) has only elected one non-Labour cllr (for just one term of the three).
Looking at YouGov polling (admittedly general election voting intention), could be in for a big change in May 2026.
YouGov general election voting intention in London May 2022 v Nov 2025
November 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Carbon Budget Delivery Plan not exactly full of promise either on rail electrification (0.01 MtCO2e savings in the mid-2030s maybe...)
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
richard.hebditch.org
The Government amendment above is their answer to Kate Parminter's amendment below.
Peers will also have some questions for the Minister on Monday on this amendment, eg by when will the regulations be made and come into force.
Clause 58, page 94, line 37 at end insert— “(5A) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish draft regulations to make provision for— (a) how the mitigation hierarchy will be applied in preparing and applying an EDP, (b) a procedure by which the scientific evidence for including an environmental feature in an EDP will be assessed, taking account of the precautionary principle, (c) an assessment of the baseline condition of any environmental features that are habitats or species for each development application under an environmental delivery plan, (d) a list of irreplaceable habitats which cannot be an environmental feature in an EDP, and (e) the circumstances in which conservation actions must be taken before development takes place under an EDP.”
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
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These are all the changes that the Lords made to the Bill tabled by opposition and crossbench peers, with Better Planning Coalition views on which should be kept or alternative ways for Government to address them.
Summary of views on amendments • Amendment 3 (requirement on Government to respond to Parliamentary resolution about changes to a national policy statement) - retain • Amendment 7A (heritage site consents in NSIP reservoir schemes) – existing safeguards in the NSIP regime still exist so not a priority to retain • Amendment 7B (right to make representations for villages demolished by reservoir schemes) – we would like to see Government come forward with an alternative proposal if they would not accept this amendment • Amendment 55 (enabling power to lay regulations on EV charging accessibility) - retain • Amendment 56 (review of regulation on smaller scale reservoir regulation) – we would like to see Government commit to a timescale for consultation on this issue • Amendment 63 (require affirmative procedure for regulations for national scheme of delegation on planning decisions) - retain • Amendment 87D (prevent assets of community value from being demolished under permitted development rules) - retain • Amendment 94 (spatial development strategies to include chalk stream protection) – retain or Government to set out policy changes to strengthen regulation • Amendment 96 (spatial development strategies and brownfield prioritisation) – retain or Government commitment to strengthen brownfield first in NPPF • Amendment 130 (limiting environmental delivery plans to four issues) – retain or Government to amend to set out proposal for Parliament to approve further rollout of EDPs through regulations
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Planning & Infrastructure Bill has its last Lords day on Monday with Third Reading (but will do more with ping-pong with the Commons later). Just two amendments - one tidying one and this one, to avoid a defeat on an amendment tabled by Baroness Parminter. Govt has moved a lot to reassure critics.
BARONESS TAYLOR OF STEVENAGE ★_ Clause 65, page 105, line 4, at end insert— “(8A) The Secretary of State must make regulations setting out the appropriate prioritisation, by Natural England, of the different ways of addressing any negative effect of development on a protected species or on a protected feature of a protected site when— (a) preparing an EDP, or (b) considering requesting an amendment to an EDP.” Member's explanatory statement This amendment would place a requirement on the Secretary of State to make regulations setting out a prioritisation of the different ways in which the negative effect of development which may be subject to an EDP may be addressed. The regulations would apply to Natural England when preparing an EDP or considering an amendment to an EDP.
November 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
richard.hebditch.org
As you would completely expect, people support a tax when someone else is paying it. So where EV ownership is lowest (Wales), least opposition to EV road pricing. Where highest (London), opposition is strongest.
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
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Iceland's introduction of road pricing for EVs was not great for EV sales (sales figures for last year but latest figures are still down year on year - see newautomotive.substack.com/p/ev-buyers-...)
November 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
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Latest car sales figures from @newautomotive.org show EVs continuing to become mainstream.
And it's the "legacy" car makers that are seeing growth in EV sales. BYD making in-roads but despite EU having anti-China EV tariffs and UK not, Chinese car makers are not (yet) sweeping all before them.
November 5, 2025 at 10:18 AM
richard.hebditch.org
On future role for @ldntravelwatch.bsky.social under rail reform proposals
London TravelWatch will continue to have a voice on matters that could impact the London transport network. The Passenger Watchdog will be required to consult appropriate bodies when it is setting passenger experience related standards, providing the basis to consult London TravelWatch. We also intend to expand London TravelWatch’s investigatory and information-sharing watchdog powers and duties for rail to align with the new powers for the watchdog to ensure London passengers have the same level of consumer protection and advocacy as those in the rest of the UK. The government will continue to work with the Greater London Authority and London TravelWatch as work to establish the watchdog continues.
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Zack Polanski at Green Alliance conference today. I think this is the first ever environment sector event I've been to where a Green party politician has given a keynote speech. Very good speech and very well delivered too.
November 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM
richard.hebditch.org
No government defeats in the Lords last night in the final night of report stage for the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Even swift bricks didn't manage to get over the line (vote below).
Next is Lords Third Reading on 10 November
Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Division 6: held on 3 November 2025 Contents: 36 Not Contents: 102
November 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Annual % change in EV charge points since July 2024. On the plus side, funding for LAs is coming on stream and absolute numbers are holding steady. But weakening of the ZEV mandate will not have helped provide policy certainty to support private investment.
Annual % change in EV charge points since July 2024 showing decline
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
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The latest Index of Deprivation out today. Three of the four least deprived wards in England are in Harpenden, Herts, the town where I went to school. About the most Conservative-voting place you could imagine back then but now is Lib Dem voting in a sign of the changing political demographics.
October 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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Big defeat in the Lords on the Government's Planning & Infrastructure Bill - restricting the proposed new Environmental Delivery Plans to just four issues. 260 - 141.
Amendment here: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
October 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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Not the most ambitious of approaches on rail and decarbonisation in the carbon budget delivery plan (columns show savings in carbon budgets to mid-2030s)
October 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
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First amendment before the Lords today on the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Hope to see Lords vote for this duty given vital role of planning system in tackling and adapting to climate change.
After Clause 52 insert the following new Clause— “Duties in relation to mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change in relation to planning (1) The Secretary of State must have special regard to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change in preparing— (a) national policy, planning policy or advice relating to the development or use of land, (b) a national development management policy pursuant to section 38ZA of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. (2) A planning authority when exercising a relevant function under the planning Acts shall have special regard to the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change. (3) When making a planning decision relating to development arising from an application for planning permission, the making of a development order granting planning permission or an approval pursuant to a development order granting planning permission, a relevant planning authority (as defined in section 91 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023) must have special regard to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. (4) For the purposes of interpretation of this section “the mitigation of climate change” includes the achievement of— (a) the target for 2050 set out in section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008, (b) applicable carbon budgets made pursuant to section 4 of the Climate Change Act 2008, and (c) sections 1 to 3 of the Environment Act 2021 (environmental targets) (5) “adaptation to climate change” includes— (a) the mitigation of the risks identified in the latest climate change risk assessment conducted under section 56 of the Climate Change Act 2008, and (b) the achievement of the objectives of the latest flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy made pursuant to section 7 of the Flood and Coastal Water Management Act 2010.”
October 29, 2025 at 9:12 AM
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All policies now need to have their own hats (from yesterday's Lords debate on planning bill)
October 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM
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Not many gigs where the video between acts is discussing compulsory purchase orders and landlordism. Nor projections behind the main act of Stevenage new town.
October 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
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Analysis needed to justify any airport expansion
23. If the Government proceeds with airport expansion it should set out to the Committee in its response to this report, in-depth analysis on: How it will ensure carbon costs will reach the level the Government expected in the Jet Zero Strategy. It should also set out a realistic timeline and a plan in the event that these targets become unachievable; The emissions savings it considers can be delivered by the aviation sector through technological development such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, including the most recent risk register for these innovations; The penalties, such as fines, the Government will impose on the aviation sector if it fails to meet the Jet Zero Strategy targets; The level of emissions targets it will set for the sector in relation to international flights and how it will monitor and enforce those targets; and, What environmental mitigations will be put in place if the sector fails to decarbonise. (Recommendation, Paragraph 110)
October 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM
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Limits of sustainable aviation fuel
90. Evidence heard at the Whittle Laboratory suggested that whilst moving 25% of fuel usage to sustainable aviation fuel would offer substantial emissions reductions, beyond that point the reductions became much less certain. This is due to the likelihood of reducing availability of feedstocks for other sectors and moving beyond utilising ‘waste’ products and towards having to grow and cut down crops purely to serve the aviation sector. They suggested that other new technologies such as battery and hydrogen powered aircraft would also need to make up a proportion of the emission reductions in the future and warned against relying too heavily upon SAF to reduce aviation emissions. 91. It is clear that the UK would not be able to produce sufficient Sustainable Aviation Fuel to service the level of SAF the Government currently expects the industry to use. The Committee is concerned that current Carbon Budgets would not recognise imported SAF as being a genuine reduction in emission which would leave a gap in current Government carbon accounting.
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
richard.hebditch.org
There's an awful lot of airport expansion in the pipeline, not just Heathrow (but reminder that business travel is well down since Covid and has not bounced back to anything like same extent)
At the time of writing, the expansion plans are: London City – from 6.5 million passengers per annum to 9 million passengers per annum (approved).18 Luton – from 18 million passengers per annum to 32 million passengers per annum (approved).19 Gatwick – from 46 million passengers per annum in 2019 to 67.2 million passengers per annum by 2047 (approved), with possible additional expansion to 80 million passengers per annum by 2047 (approved).20 Stansted – from 29 million passengers per annum to 43 million passengers per annum (approved),21 with possible additional expansion to 51 million passengers per annum (awaiting decision).22 Heathrow – from 84 million passengers per annum to 150 million passengers per annum (awaiting decision).23 The Government has also announced support for the reopening of Doncaster-Sheffield airport, which had 1.4 million passengers in 2019.24
October 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Temporary measures like these can stick around for a long time so this could be the new normal for London.

Relief from Community Infrastructure Levy is also concerning - this is pretty much the only money councils have to do "nice" things beyond core statutory duties.

CIL relief details below.
The Government’s intention is that the relief would broadly: a. apply to residential floorspace (excluding student and co-living accommodation) in schemes, or phases of schemes, that commence after the relief is in place and before 31 December 2028; b. cover 50 per cent of the CIL charge for schemes which deliver at least 20 per cent affordable housing, in line with the new time-limited planning route; c. allow for increases in relief to above 50 per cent where a scheme is delivering levels of affordable housing above 20 per cent; d. be contingent upon meeting proportionate qualifying criteria to ensure relief is targeted at schemes which would otherwise remain stalled or fail to come forwards, with a lower relief applicable where the full available amount is shown not to be warranted; and e. not apply to the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy, and only apply to brownfield land (excluding all land on or released from grey or Green Belt).
October 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
richard.hebditch.org
From today's ministerial statement on Heathrow expansion - shows how difficult it will be to deliver, whatever the talk of rushing through the aviation national policy statement. Trying to deliver on all of these conflicting aims is difficult.
Expansion at Heathrow must minimise cost for passengers and customers. The taxpayer must not be expected to foot the bill. That is why the scheme will be privately financed – both the core project and the related infrastructure improvements. Extra staff and passengers must be able to get to and from the airport without turning the M4 and the M25 into Europe’s largest car park. Crucially, the expansion must align with our legal, environmental and climate commitments.
October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM