A greener Budget?

On Wednesday 23 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, delivered the Coalition Government's first full Budget. In a challenging economic climate the key aim of the Budget is economic growth and development.  With little capacity for give-aways, the Chancellor also unveiled a number of sustainability initiatives aimed at delivering a low-carbon future for the UK which at the same time further the Government's target to increase the proportion of tax revenues accounted for by environmental taxes. 

In a mixed Budget, some initiatives, such as reforming the planning system, have been widely welcomed.  However, other changes show the difficulties the Government is facing in balancing a long term need for a sustainable future with the immediate need for economic growth.

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Lawyers Helen Garthwaite, Peter Jackson