Tories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural England

The Conservatives will announce a bold wave of regulatory changes, including the abandonment of affordable‑home subsidies and community‑funding mandates, along with the complete dissolution of Natural England and the Environment Agency.

The shadow chancellor, Andrew Griffith, argues the move forms part of a strategy to streamline ecological safeguards and force developers to embed affordable housing and essential community services—like GP surgeries—within new constructions, thereby speeding up infrastructure and housing delivery.

The announcements unveiled Monday signal a deliberate shift toward economic focus, an arena where the party has seen comparatively modest poll lead‑growth.

Tory strategists see a major opening to achieve gains against Reform and Labour, especially with the limited growth emphasis evident from Andy Burnham and chancellor John Healey’s remarks at the Labour conference last week.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, released a white paper titled “The Right Way” that serves as the foundation for her policy framework ahead of the next election. Drawing inspiration from Margaret Thatcher’s 1976 “The Right Approach”, Badenoch claims the party expects to win and must “hit the ground running”. She criticized Keir Starmer for lacking a plan, stating that incremental steps by Andy Burnham and others are doomed to fall short.

“Keir Starmer didn’t have a plan. That’s why he’s gone,” she declared. “Andy Burnham lacks a coherent roadmap, so his proposals will likely falter. We must differ fundamentally from Labour—and from the party state two years ago.

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During the Monday conference, a series of declarations outlined the Conservatives’ agenda. In particular, they vowed to slash new‑home prices by roughly £50,000 through a suite of reforms, including the repeal of the Future Homes Standard, which imposes strict carbon‑reduction requirements on new dwelling approvals across England.

Additionally, the administration promises to replace Section 106 attachments and the community infrastructure levy—once obligations forcing developers to deliver affordable housing shares and support schools and health facilities—with a unified levy on developers, as outlined by Shadow Chancellor Griffith.

The Conservative front bench also announced it will abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency, contending that their structures impede housing supply and impose unnecessary costs on building. Their key responsibilities would be transferred directly to Defra to create a more coordinated regulatory environment.

In his inaugural address as shadow chancellor, Griffith affirmed that the Conservatives intend to push a sweeping deregulatory programme (“a cat’s cradle of complexity”) aimed at reviving the economy, curbing rising rents, and lowering tax burdens.

“No one else is coming to save our economy. Only we can inject hard truths and ensure this nation inherits a world we’re proud of.”, he asserted during his speech.

He further emphasized, “Our remit has expanded dramatically; we face Prime Minister who wishes to revert Britain to an imagined past—a 1970s socialist fantasy. His agenda calls for cheaper homes, reduced taxes, and minimised bureaucracy. This represents the most ambitious deregulatory drive in a decade. Our legislative and regulatory roadmap will be detailed point by point, every bill, every rule, and every clause.”

Griffith stressed that delivering the third Heathrow runway must be accelerated regardless of political rhetoric. “I refuse to entertain the notion that the engineered marvels of Brunel, Bazalnet, the vaccine taskforce and the Mulberry harbours must wait until the 2040s for a third runway,” he declared.

Speaking on behalf of the incoming housing secretary, Katie Lam, the deputy highlighted that abolishing existing housing rules and enforcement frameworks would empower market‑driven solutions rather than leaving the private sector hostage.

The Conservative Party underscored that natural‑environment stewardship is currently hamstrung by administrative bottlenecks, positioning the removal of Natural England and the Environment Agency as a means to unlock new development potential.

As he expounds, “No one else is coming to save our economy. Only we can inject the hard truths and secure a future worth passing down to the next generation.”

Griffith warned that President‑in‑waiting Andy Starmer pursued an ill‑considered agenda, accusing him of delaying critical construction milestones. Burnham has since voiced reservations regarding the proposed third runway, suggesting alternative approaches may better serve the nation’s needs.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed shadow housing secretary, Katie Lam, cautioned that eliminating housing directives and top‑down monitoring will free development markets from excessive constraint, allowing entrepreneurs and investors to respond swiftly to demand.

The Conservative Party maintains that its core priorities now lie in revitalising growth, curbing red tape, and reshaping environmental governance—efforts designed to restore competitiveness before the next general election.

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