Warning bill will 'tragically' damage countryside

The government has been urged to change the proposed legal changes

A government bill could cause "tragic, irretrievable and avoidable" damage to Surrey's countryside, a councillor has warned.

Jonathan Essex, Green Party councillor for Redhill East, said the Planning and Infrastructure Bill could "dismantle decades of progress in nature protection" if passed.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told the BBC: "The government has inherited a failing system that has delayed new homes and infrastructure while doing nothing for nature's recovery.

"We are determined to fix this," they added.

"Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will deliver a win-win for the economy and nature by unblocking building and economic growth and delivering meaningful environmental improvements."

There is a shortage of affordable homes in Surrey, with more than 10,000 households on a local authority housing waiting list, according to a Surrey County Council (SCC) document.

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SCC unanimously agreed on a motion by Mr Essex to urge the government to change "deeply damaging" parts of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The bill will "water down" habitat protections to sites of specific scientific interest and other protected areas, the East Surrey Green Party said in a statement.

Protection granted to individual species, such as bats, newts, wild birds and water voles, could also be weakened, it added.