Research from More in Common shows Britons want new housing developments to protect the natural environment rather than compromise it.
The research, based on polling and focus groups, suggests voters are more likely to support politicians and parties that prioritise both nature and housing.
According to the findings, 20% of Britons think environmental standards should be weakened to build more properties however, 62% want standards maintained. What’s more, 17% said environmental protections are not a barrier to housing at all.
Two-thirds (67%) said developers should look after the natural environment in new developments, while 64% believe important places for nature should have even stronger protections.
The research, published today (12th November), also highlighted politicians are perceived as out of step with public opinion. Only 14% of Britons feel that politicians share their values on nature, while 67% believe they are disconnected from these priorities.
When considering new developments, respondents ranked avoiding pressure on local services (34%), affordability (32%), and protecting irreplaceable habitats (31%) as their top concerns. Focus group participants noted that many modern estates lack the green spaces that were standard in older developments, affecting residents’ access to nature.
Rebecca, a retired resident of Milton Keynes North, said: ‘We have lots of green spaces in Milton Keynes, but they’re in the estates that have been established for the last 30 or 40 years. And you notice the difference in the new estates that they don’t have the green spaces anymore… now when they’re building the newer estates, that community hub is no longer there. From that point of view of protecting the green space, they’re just not making them anymore.’
The report challenges the idea of a stark ‘YIMBY vs NIMBY’ divide, showing that most people assess new developments on a case-by-case basis. Only 17% would usually oppose any development, while 26% would usually support it.
Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, said: ”What’s striking about this research is how little the YIMBY–NIMBY debate reflects how the public actually think… Politically, the risk isn’t in protecting nature but in being seen to sacrifice it. Voters are far more likely to reward politicians who talk about development that works with nature, not against it.’
Beccy Speight, chief executive of RSPB, added: ‘The public wants better, affordable homes built with nature, not at its expense. This isn’t homes vs. habitats, it’s about creating places that work for people and wildlife, with communities meaningfully involved from the start… Trashing nature is not just bad policy, it’s bad politics.’
This research was commissioned by the RSPB Bird and Wildlife Conservation Charity and can be accessed in full here.
Photo: Freysteinn G. Jonsson/UnSplash
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