The UK’s green spaces and infrastructure are “under serious threat”, and “urgent action is needed” to reverse their decline, MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have said.

In a letter, the committee called on the government to prioritise green spaces and encourage more investment into green infrastructure.

It found there was “strong evidence” linking urban green spaces to a host of environmental and health benefits, but there is at present no statutory duty for councils to provide them.

With many councils facing severe financial constraints, green spaces are increasingly being underfunded as all available cash is spent on meeting their statutory responsibilities.

In a letter to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the committee said there was “a strong case” for a more robust funding programme to support investment, maintenance costs and staff resourcing.

The government “urgently needs to set out its plans to tackle recruitment concerns” facing...