The Abundance Agenda Natural England's war on Sussex
6 snips
Oct 13, 2025 Praful Nargund, Founder and CEO of the Good Growth Foundation, shares insights on planning reforms that could unblock housing in the UK. He discusses four key reforms to streamline decision-making and boost development. Praful also advocates for reopening cross-channel rail services, highlighting potential economic benefits for regions like Ashford, estimating up to £2.7 billion in value. The conversation dives into how proactive growth strategies can gain public support and counter skepticism about development.
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King Canute Home Defense Story
- Martin recounts the 2006 case where Peter Boggess defended his home with sea defenses and beat Natural England in court.
- The story illustrates how Natural England sued residents to protect fossils and coastline processes, creating local conflict.
Catchment-Wide Veto For Snails
- Natural England argued the entire catchment for a river must be protected to save tiny ram's horn snails, effectively blocking development across much of North West Sussex.
- Their interim advice demands near-zero additional water use and recommends delaying planning decisions until a strategy is complete.
De Facto Development Embargoes
- Natural England's 'development embargoes' now affect dozens of planning authorities and large swathes of the country over water and nutrient concerns.
- These embargo-like letters act as de facto bans, stalling housing and infrastructure in affected regions.
