The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 created a new route for developers to meet some environmental obligations: Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs), funded through a Nature Restoration Levy. On 17 September 2026, Natural England opened consultation on the first draft EDP, which deals with nutrient pollution affecting protected habitats in Norfolk. The consultation closes on 27 October 2026. In simple terms, an EDP lets a developer pay a levy towards strategic conservation measures instead of solving certain impacts site by site. EDPs are optional by default, and developers can keep using existing routes. Importantly, BNG is not affected: mandatory BNG still applies separately. Expect more EDPs to follow, potentially covering other protected sites and species.
For developers in Yorkshire, the message is to watch this space, but not to assume an EDP will remove the need for surveys. Good baseline ecology will still be needed to know which impacts an EDP covers and which it doesn’t.