The government's new planning rules will leave nature and the environment at the mercy of developers

The climate column: The government is trying to abolish environmental protections, bulldoze democratic accountability and give developers carte blanche to build across vast swathes of the country, says Donnachadh McCarthy

The government promises to cut red tape over planning permission for building new homes (Getty)

Build Back Brutally seems to be Boris Johnson’s new slogan. The government, in classic shock-doctrine mode, is using the Covid-19 crisis to smash our planning protections which will benefit the billionaire property oligarchs.

The scandal prone secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Robert Jenrick, is trying to abolish environmental protections, bulldoze democratic accountability and give corporate developers carte blanche to build across vast swathes of England, without the need to apply for any outline planning permission whatsoever.