This week The Wildlife Trusts wait to hear whether the Government will weaken some of nature’s strongest protections, including slashing the habitats regulations and rules affecting national parks.

Smuggled under the cover of making it easier to build nuclear power more quickly, the recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Review could end up being applied to any infrastructure or housing development proposals. Yesterday, the Chancellor confirmed that the Government’s response to the review recommendations would be published this week.

The Wildlife Trusts are seeking legal advice because they believe that the Government is at risk of breaking EU trade commitments if it goes ahead with the Review’s recommendations to weaken nature laws.