Nature campaigners and wildlife lovers have criticised chancellor Rachel Reeves after she said developers would “not need to worry about bats and newts” in her bid to ramp up growth in the UK economy.

Reeves’ speech on Wednesday (29 January) paved the way for a number of large infrastructure projects, including a controversial third runway at Heathrow Airport and a new 100,000 stadium for Manchester United, as the chancellor looks to boost the UK’s stagnating economy.

But Reeves, who said she was “shocked” at the speed of the planning system, courted controversy when she said that developers will be able to pay into a proposed nature restoration fund rather than considering the impact on development on “bats and newts”.

Joan Edwards, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Reeves appears unaware of the vital role nature plays in the UK, contrary to her ambition to become ‘Britain’s first green chancellor’. Nature protections are not blocking the UK’s success – they underpin our economy and make us safer. In fact, fuelling nature-degradation will only serve as a barrier to the prosperous growth the UK government wants.