PM weighs scrapping National Parks law after Nuclear Taskforce recommendation “built on hot air”

Published: 10 February 2026

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request obtained by Campaign for National Parks has revealed the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s recommendation to scrap the law protecting National Parks and National Landscapes is not based on evidence.

The Protected Landscapes duty was introduced with cross party support in 2023, and requires all public bodies in England to seek to further the purposes of National Parks and National Landscapes. From the mountains of the Lake District to the ancient oaks of the New Forest, this duty is considered as the essential driver for protecting heritage and enhancing nature recovery. It has been championed widely, including by current Ministers and is a key legal tool to deliver the UK’s international commitment to protect and manage 30% of land for nature by 2030 and meeting England’s legally binding biodiversity targets.  

However, in November 2025, the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce called for this important duty to be scrapped: recommendations which are currently being seriously considered by the Prime Minister.  

The response to the FOI request lays bare the fact that the Taskforce’s decision to recommend removing the duty is ideology over evidence.  

The FOI response received by Campaign for National Parks has revealed that:  

1. There was no due diligence, no impact assessment nor a quantified cost assessment. No evidence was found listing even a single National Park or National Landscape where there may be any conflict between the current duty and nuclear development.  
2. Not a single nuclear developer, industry body or indeed anyone at all raised the Protected Landscapes duty as an issue to the Taskforce in their call for evidence or through-out their process.  
3. The recommendation is largely based on a single blog article written by one Taskforce member, sub-titled “Areas of outstanding national bickering”. 

The FOI findings, including redacted email correspondence showed no evidence to support claims that the Protected Landscape duty hinders nuclear development.  

In October last year, we, with 200 signatories, sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to uphold the laws protecting National Parks and National Landscapes, highlighting the extent that these areas are much loved by the nation.

Campaign for National Park’s CEO, Dr Rose O’Neill said:

“This FOI lays bare the fact that the Prime Minister is considering scrapping National Parks law on a recommendation that’s built on nothing but hot air.

“This is a crossroads moment: is this government acting with integrity, making sound policy decisions based on evidence? Or is it letting itself be swayed by misinformation, rhetoric and the personal views of those set against our most precious landscapes?

“Scrapping the duty will open up National Parks and National Landscapes to pollution, industrialisation and damage. This law to ensure developers can work with the Park and Landscape bodies to ensure win-wins for nature and growth.  From the South Downs to the Suffolk Coast there are numerous examples of this working successfully, which the Taskforce have chosen to completely ignore.”

The Taskforce’s report mistakenly refers to the duty as a “duty for local authorities to ‘seek and further’ national parks and landscapes.” In reality, the duty requires all public bodies, including water companies and Forestry England to seek to conserve and enhance the purposes of National Parks and National Landscapes. 

In emails obtained through the FOI request, the Taskforce member highlights the number of judicial reviews involving the duty to other members but does not make clear that judges in these cases found that the duty was not a blocker to development, and important legal precedents had been set. Effective implementation of the duty can only be achieved with certainty that the law is here to stay, rather than the confusion and delays caused by erroneous recommendations.  

To combat the incorrect myths being peddled by opponents to the duty we’ve published 5 Facts about the Duty and what it means for development.  

The British public love their National Parks and National Landscapes

Last October, over 200 charities, businesses, scientists, local community groups and landscape experts from across the county had called on the Prime Minister to retain the Duty.  

Following this, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told parliament “the government has no plans to repeal the Protected Landscapes duty”. In December 2025, Nature Minister Mary Creagh wrote to us and Nuclear Minister Lord Vallance, wrote to us stating: “Whilst we do not intend to repeal the duty, we acknowledge that decision makers may need support in applying the duty appropriately.” 

Now we need them to hold fast.   

Ministers have said they will respond to the Nuclear Regulatory Review’s recommendations before the end of February. Considering what we now know, that the recommendation on the duty has been made without evidence, we’re calling on the Prime Minister to fully reject this proposal and show their backing for a duty they originally championed and helped bring into law in opposition. Any other decision will draw strong condemnation and could present the government with a big political headache. We have written again to the Prime Minister.