In this blog we look back on the first Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) Business Readiness Forum, held to help developers, planners and environmental stakeholders understand how the new fund will work in practice. We explain how the NRF and Environmental Delivery Plans will support sustainable development through a simpler, levy‑based approach, while enabling more strategic and effective nature recovery at scale. We also highlight what participants heard, the feedback shared, and how this ongoing engagement will shape the scheme as it develops.
By Bradley Tooze, Strategy Director at Natural England
Building a scheme that offers a win win for development and nature
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 helps to remove blockages and delays in the planning system. But, more than that, it also enables us to work collaboratively to deliver nature recovery at a landscape scale. This will help us to meet the ambitions of our strategy: ‘Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security’ and the Environmental Improvement Plan targets which underpin sustainable development and a healthy economy.
The Act introduces the new Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) as a tool that supports both sustainable development and large-scale nature recovery. It streamlines the planning system by allowing developers to meet environmental requirements through a simple levy rather than having to undertake bespoke assessments and actions for their individual projects. Specific areas will have an Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) that identifies the actions, or conservation measures, needed to materially outweigh development impacts. Natural England will use the pooled levy to deliver these measures in partnership with others, aligning them with existing local strategies, such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Neighbourhood Plans.
Starting up a conversation – The Business Readiness Forum
A new online national Business Readiness Forum (BRF) was launched by Natural England on Tuesday 24 March 2026 to update stakeholders on the purpose of and progress with the development of the Nature Restoration Fund and Environmental Delivery Plans. Predominantly focused on developers, planners, local authorities, conservation measure providers and environmental stakeholders, we will continue to use this forum to open up conversation, discuss progress and encourage stakeholder input as to how the scheme will work in practice. This will continue to inform scheme development and maximise the benefits NRF can offer sustainable development and nature recovery.
The BRF provides another channel of engagement to those who will be directly involved in delivering nature positive development under the new NRF framework by:
- Communicating key announcements
- Providing updates on delivery, operational and digital aspects
- Involving stakeholders in testing / capturing feedback
- Encouraging a conversation, taking feedback on board and providing answers to stakeholder questions
- Sharing upcoming engagement opportunities
- Demonstrating the benefits of join up with other delivery mechanisms and strategies
Key highlights from the forum
Participants heard from NRF leads at Natural England, who provided updates and insight into the programme’s direction. This included:
- Natural England’s role in delivering the NRF and how it will support stakeholders
- An introduction to the senior team
- An introduction to the NRF, including why it is needed and how it will function
- How EDPs will inform the delivery of environmental responsibilities within the new system
- The development process for the NRF and the steps being taken to ensure a streamlined, transparent approach
- A Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to seek clarification and offer early feedback. See the questions and answers raised during the forum
- Space for stakeholders to share their perspectives, which will help to shape the programme as it evolves
The forum was recorded for participants and others to review afterwards. You can view it on YouTube.
Next steps
Natural England is using stakeholder feedback to refine the NRF via insights from the forum and other stakeholder input. Future sessions will provide more detailed guidance, updates on programme development, and opportunities for continued dialogue. Those unable to attend will be able to access future events as the programme progresses. The next BRF will be scheduled for this summer.
Newsletter
Those who registered for the first BRF have been signed up to receive an NRF e-newsletter. If you didn’t register or join the forum on 24 March but would like to receive ongoing updates, please email us at: NRFengagement@naturalengland.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
