A coalition of climate networks has urged the government to prioritise environmental planning in new authority structures.

The South East Climate Alliance, Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, and 10 others, representing hundreds of community groups, have written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner.

Hampshire Climate Action Network chair, Chris Holloway, said: "The new Strategic Authorities will have responsibility, sooner or later, for all the building blocks for stopping runaway global heating - energy, economy, transport, house building and improvement.

"So it’s essential that they are given both the responsibility and the money to use these building blocks to create a climate-friendly future."

They argue the current proposals do not sufficiently address climate and nature challenges.

The new strategic authorities should have a legal duty to plan for the environment, the groups insist.