Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has said that he is “reviewing” whether to continue with the proposed launch of investment zones following concerns that they could damage the environment.
When asked by Sophy Ridge on Sky News on 30 October whether the zones are still happening, Gove replied: “I’m reviewing them.”
He continued: “We need to make sure that any change that we make is one which, of course, helps to support economic growth and good jobs for people, but also one of the concerns raised about investment zones was the impact on the environment.”
Investment zones were a key part of former prime minister Liz Truss’s growth plan announced in September 2022. The zones offer lower taxes and streamlined planning rules for specific areas, with the aim of boosting funding and development in both commercial and residential projects.
Following the announcement of investment zones, environmental charities and groups expressed concern that the policy could impact crucial protections that safeguard wildlife and landscapes.
“I’ve been very clear, and the prime minister has been very clear, that under no circumstances will we weaken environmental protections,” Gove added.
In response to Gove’s announcement, a spokesperson for the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) told Room151: “The news that investment zones are ‘under review’ will be frustrating for our members who put a great deal of time and effort into bids that may now go nowhere.”
SIGOMA also highlighted that it is “worrying” that the government is deciding the success of the zones through a competitive method that “pits areas against each other and consumes precious officer time”.
“If the government are to progress with this agenda, then our members want reassurance that the zones will be properly targeted to areas that need them most, and that there is not a ‘race to the bottom’ on environmental and business regulations,” the spokesperson added.
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