14 Nov 2017

The government is seeking views on the development of a national policy statement for water resources and the types of infrastructure that it will apply to. The government wants to know what you think about its approach to developing a national policy statement for water resources. The statement will simplify the process of gaining planning […]

12 Nov 2017

New environmental protections to deliver a Green Brexit Environment Secretary Michael Gove announces plans to consult on a new, independent body for environmental standards   Defra: Plans to consult on a new, independent body that would hold Government to account for upholding environmental standards in England after we leave the European Union have been set out by […]

07 Nov 2017

The Environmental Audit Committee last week questioned the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Read more here Some key points He vowed to consult on the creation of a new environmental body – “A Commission” – to ensure the UK avoids a “governance gap” after leaving the […]

05 Oct 2017

Defra: A review of 145 UK projects and initiatives involving private sector investment to improve natural capital has just been published by Defra. The aim was to provide a preliminary oversight of the current state of private sector investment in natural capital and ideas on how this can be scaled up. DEFRA required a rapid review […]

05 Oct 2017

Defra consultation   Water quality: updating the public and private drinking water regulations Defra ‘We want to know what you think about our plans to update the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (‘public regulations’) and the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016 (‘private regulations’). These changes will only apply to England. The changes will bring […]

07 Sep 2017

A section of Northumberland coastline supporting 200,000 seabirds gets greater protection. The newly designated Northumberland Marine Special Protection Area (SPA) stretches 12 miles from the coastline into the North Sea, and covers an area of more than 120,000 football pitches. It’s the most important site in the UK for Arctic, common and roseate terns, the second […]

06 Sep 2017

In March 2017 Defra announced it would develop a National Policy Statement for water resources. This briefing note gives an introduction to this work and explains what is happening next. Click here to download the briefing note.    

30 Aug 2017

This must be a record for a non-consultation open and now apparently closed in 14 days. Clearly Defra don’t quite get the spirit of the Aarhus Convention. Government Keeps Flawed Environmental Justice Report Quiet By Kyla Mandel • Friday, August 25, 2017 – 03:04 DESMOG ‘A report on access to environmental justice has been quietly published by the Department […]