Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and the Nature Restoration Levy: UK health and safety law implications for developers and duty holders

Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and the Nature Restoration Levy: UK health and safety law implications for developers and duty holders

What has changed

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduces a scheme for a nature restoration levy payable by developers, administered by Natural England, and requires environmental outcomes reports for relevant projects. The act also provides provisions about infrastructure, town and country planning, compulsory purchase of land and related connected purposes.

Who is affected

The changes primarily affect developers and construction sector organisations undertaking infrastructure or major development projects. Planning authorities and development corporations will also be involved in administering and evidencing compliance with the levy and environmental outcomes reporting requirements.

Why it matters for UK health and safety law and risk management

The levy and environmental outcomes reporting create new governance and financial obligations that intersect with project risk management and delivery timelines. While the measures focus on environmental restoration, they change how projects budget for risk controls, mitigation and post development monitoring. For health and safety practitioners and compliance teams, the regulations reinforce the need to integrate environmental and ecological considerations into the overall management of workplace risk, design safety measures around site investigations, and ensure ongoing monitoring aligns with regulatory expectations under UK health and safety law.

Key duties for employers and duty holders

Developers and project managers should:

• Budget for the nature restoration levy as part of project planning and cost controls
• Engage with Natural England and planning authorities early to understand levy applicability and reporting requirements
• Incorporate environmental outcomes reporting into project governance, with clear milestones
• Review procurement and contractor terms to reflect new obligations and ensure supply chain awareness
• Update risk assessments to consider environmental restoration commitments and any site specific ecological controls
• Integrate these requirements into health and safety management systems, including ISO 45001 where appropriate

Steps to achieve compliance

1. Map each ongoing and planned project against levy eligibility and environmental outcomes reporting requirements
2. Establish a governance point of contact for levy administration and for environmental reporting
3. Update risk registers and site procedures to reflect new environmental obligations and monitoring activities
4. Revise contractor management processes and procurement documents to ensure compliance expectations are clear
5. Provide training for project teams on the levy scheme, reporting duties and ecological controls
6. Consider engaging specialist support to align management systems such as ISO 45001 with the new requirements, for example through ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management

For ongoing support, organisations can consider the broader health and safety and risk management services offered by Synergos Consultancy to help align governance and compliance with the act’s requirements.

In summary, the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduces a nature restoration levy and environmental outcomes reporting that will shape project budgeting, governance and HSE risk control. Proactive planning now will reduce delays, improve compliance and support safer, more sustainable development.

Synergos note: Where relevant, seek competent advice and support to implement changes to your health and safety management system.

Incorporating these requirements into your ISO 45001 framework can help demonstrate systematic control of workplace risk and legal compliance.

To explore practical support, see health and safety risk assessments and Competent Person support.

This article focuses on the nature restoration levy and environmental outcomes reporting as the clearest opportunity to discuss implications for business, governance, and HSE requirements under UK health and safety law.