We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, consisting of qualified ecologists and environmental planners, who are available to local authorities facing acute resource challenges. The Government should establish a pilot programme for ecological resource hubs by July 2026. (Reco...

We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, consisting of qualified ecologists and environmental planners, who are available to local authorities facing acute resource challenges. The Government should establish a pilot programme for ecological resource hubs by July 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 188) Type: recommendation | Number: 55 | Response status: no_published_response Government response: 100. The Government agrees that ecological expertise is critical within the planning system. We recognise the challenges local planning authorities face with capacity and skills across the board and are taking forward significant action to strengthen skills across the system. 101. At the 2025 Budget