It is encouraging to see house builders revisiting plans in light of coronavirus with a focus on providing more and better quality green and blue spaces. The Environment Agency works to speed up sustainable development by helping developers meet regulatory requirements efficiently, providing advice so they get it right first time. If the government wants to bring about a step-change in the nation’s health, planning reform could be a golden opportunity. This caused some alarm amongst environmentalists, but building back “better, greener, and faster” is an opportunity to make development healthier. In June, the Prime Minister said the way back from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic was to “Build, Build, Build”. The pandemic has led to an increased appreciation of nature and more engagement with the water environment, we need to build on this revitalised interest in the natural world to achieve something that is better and that lasts. This is why it is important that the recovery from coronavirus is a green recovery. Areas of higher deprivation and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations have less access to high quality green and blue space and this contributes to differing disease burdens and life expectancy.Ĭreating, and connecting people with, green or blue spaces will support new local jobs and benefit health and wellbeing. This holds back economic growth and the building of new homes. Too many towns and cities in England, especially those with a strong industrial heritage, have too little green space, too few trees, culverted rivers, poor air quality and are at risk of flooding. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed and amplified green inequality in society.
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