Environment & Planning Landmark victory for bees as insecticides are banned

• Government forced to U-turn over planning proposals
  The government has been forced to rethink controversial proposals which would double the current limit of extensions, after a backbench revolt yesterday almost saw it defeated.
• MPs urged to curb new planning relaxation rules
  Proposed changes risk fuelling tensions among neighbours by "opening the floodgates" to thousands of unattractive house extensions, councils have warned ahead of a Commons vote.
• Government told to suspend use of bee pesticides in controversial decision
  The government should suspend the use of pesticides linked to the deaths of bees until the full effects are scientifically established, a cross-party committee of MPs has said, according to reports.
Countryside at risk of more building as only few councils adopt NPPF plans
Less than 7% of councils have adopted plans to fully comply with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), despite it becoming binding, Planning Resource reports.

Strong reactors to planned nuclear plant
The government is expected to announce today it is giving the go-ahead to a planned fleet of nuclear reactors in the UK, the Press Association has reported.

Car drivers 'will save cash thanks to CO2 rules'
Drivers will save £3,300 (€3,800) over the lifetime of their cars if the EU imposes strict new standards on manufacturers, a report claims.

National Wildlife Crime Unit left in funding doubt
Unit funded for just 12 months as ministers refuse to tighten law on poisons used to kill birds of prey.

UK should use shale gas to cut emissions, report says
It would be risky to assume gas prices will be low in the future, said the report from the Grantham Institute.