OxTalks will soon move to the new Halo platform and will become 'Oxford Events.' There will be a need for an OxTalks freeze. This was previously planned for Friday 14th November – a new date will be shared as soon as it is available (full details will be available on the Staff Gateway).
In the meantime, the OxTalks site will remain active and events will continue to be published.
If staff have any questions about the Oxford Events launch, please contact halo@digital.ox.ac.uk
Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces the concept of a “grey belt,” aiming to reclassify certain Green Belt areas to facilitate housing development.
While intended to address housing shortages, these reforms have raised concerns about potential impacts on biodiversity.
Wildlife organisations highlight that the bill could weaken protections for species such as newts, bats, beavers, dormice, and otters. Additionally, the proposed “nature restoration levy” may allow developers to offset environmental obligations through payments, potentially undermining the mitigation hierarchy and the polluter pays principle.
This seminar will explore the implications of these reforms on biodiversity and discuss strategies to balance housing needs with environmental conservation.
