Welsh Minister for Housing and Local Government warns against the use of netting in development

Welsh Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AC/AM, has recently written to all Heads of Planning with regards to the use of netting on trees and hedgerows in and around development sites.

In her letter, available in both English and Welsh, the Minister warned that the practice should only be used as a last resort, and that through early engagement developers should avoid circumstances that require netting to be used.

Ms James notes that ‘the practice of using netting during construction phases of a scheme is a very public demonstration of an imbalance in society’s relationship with nature’, and refers developers to the guidance jointly produced by CIEEM and RSPB in April 2019.