The Conservative Party, led by shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith, is set to announce a significant deregulation agenda aimed at boosting the economy and accelerating construction projects. Central to this proposal is the abolition of two major public bodies: the Environment Agency and Natural England. The party frames this move as a necessary step to 'streamline regulations' that currently govern environmental protection and development standards.

In addition to the dissolution of these agencies, the Conservatives intend to remove existing mandates that require property developers to include affordable housing units and community infrastructure, such as GP surgeries, in their projects. The party argues that these regulatory requirements act as barriers to rapid infrastructure development and housebuilding. By removing these obligations, the Conservatives hope to stimulate economic growth, an area where the party has struggled to gain traction in recent polling.

While the party describes these changes as a way to cut red tape, the proposal signals a major shift in how the UK manages environmental oversight and community planning. The announcement is expected to be a focal point of the party’s upcoming economic strategy, emphasizing a prioritization of construction speed and economic output over the current regulatory framework for nature conservation and social housing provision.