Member

This upfront clarity is vital for developers, especially for smaller housebuilders. When a developer chooses to use an EDP, the payment of the levy legally discharges the relevant environmental obligations. This transfer of responsibility for securing environmental outcomes derisks development, which will be particularly beneficial to SME developers, which often have less resource for consultancy and legal services. The Secretary of State, when making the levy regulations, is already required to ensure that the viability of development is considered and may set different rates for different scales or types of development as well. SMEs have been an important consideration for the Government when we have been designing this legislation, so I hope that on that basis the noble Baroness will not press her amendment. With these explanations, I hope noble Lords are content not to press their amendments.