England’s new planning rules move from statute to action. From 19 December 2025, Natural England can begin preparing Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and design a nature restoration levy after commencement regulations brought the relevant sections of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 into force.

An EDP is a statutory plan, prepared by Natural England and made by the Secretary of State, that sets out which environmental features are likely to be affected by defined development, the conservation measures to address those impacts, how much levy developers will pay to fund those measures, and which obligations are discharged or modified when the levy is paid.

Natural England has already notified ministers that it will prepare 23 EDPs across England: sixteen focused on nutrient pollution from development affecting protected sites and seven for great crested newts. The agency confirms it will consult first on nutrient-related plans.

The nature restoration levy is central to delivery. Rather than each scheme running its own bespoke mitigation, developers will be able to opt to pay a defined charge set out in an EDP’s charging schedule. Natural England then pools and spends those funds on targeted, evidence-led measures, with the aim that outcomes materially outweigh any permitted harm.

Transparency is baked in. From 1 April 2026, Natural England must publish an annual report listing all EDPs in force or in preparation, changes made, and a summary of money received via the levy and spent on conservation. The Secretary of State must lay these reports before Parliament.

Public bodies are not bystanders. General duties now apply when exercising functions related to EDPs, and there is a legal duty on authorities to co‑operate with Natural England and provide reasonable assistance in preparing and implementing plans. This is designed to speed decisions while improving outcomes on the ground.

More provisions follow on 18 February 2026. These include five‑yearly reviews of National Policy Statements, standardised objectives on sustainable development and climate change for development corporations, and changes to land assembly processes such as expedited vesting procedures. Expect these shifts to influence how major projects factor nature recovery into design and delivery.

EDPs sit alongside, not instead of, Biodiversity Net Gain. BNG’s 10% requirement continues for most town and country planning applications, with NSIPs due to come in from May 2026. EDPs provide a route for specific pressures-such as nutrients or protected species-where pooled action can deliver better results than case‑by‑case mitigation, and Natural England says plans will align with Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

The need is clear. State of Nature 2023 reports wildlife in England has fallen by 32% in average abundance since 1970, with 13% of assessed species threatened with extinction. Reversing that trend while meeting housing and infrastructure goals requires investment at the right scale, tracked through open data and verifiable metrics.

For planning authorities, the immediate task is to map where forthcoming EDPs intersect with growth areas, set up joint evidence baselines with Natural England, and budget for monitoring so levy‑funded measures can be audited easily. Early coordination will cut delay later and build confidence with communities and developers.

For developers, treat the levy as an early design variable rather than a late‑stage cost. Budget against the charging schedule once published, evidence any residual issues not covered by an EDP, and keep BNG plans moving in parallel. The quickest wins will come where schemes are designed to reduce nutrient loads and avoid sensitive habitats before relying on the levy.

For communities and land managers, the first consultations will be on nutrient pollution EDPs. This is the moment to bring forward site knowledge, water‑quality data, and practical habitat proposals that can be delivered locally. Done well, the new system can fund targeted river and wetland recovery while giving planners the certainty they have lacked.