08 Mar 2023

The government has published its response to last January’s consultation on biodiversity net gain (BNG) this month. The consultation response confirms that developers will be required to deliver 10% BNG on most sites from November, with requirement for small sites introduced from April 2024. The government also announced £16 million funding for Local Planning Authorities […]

08 Mar 2023

Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon said Labour will set out at its party conference in September “a position that would clean up the water industry in this country, deliver value for money for consumers and bill payers, and finally work in the national interest”. Shadow defence and education minster Stephen Morgan shared: “Labour’s plan to […]

08 Mar 2023

A survey by Ofwat, Trust and perceptions: People’s views on the water sector, finds that only one-third of people trust water companies to prevent sewage from entering waterways or to do no harm to biodiversity in the water environment. Over half said untreated sewage had the most negative impact on rivers from a list which […]

08 Mar 2023

The government is consulting until 5th April on the approach to the fourth round of reporting under the Adaptation Reporting Power (ARP4 Strategy). We want to gather views from infrastructure operators and public bodies. We are asking about: the usefulness of reporting how to improve on this for future rounds what should be contained in […]

08 Mar 2023

From the Guardian The scenes are rare enough in mid-summer; in early March, they are unprecedented. Lac de Montbel in south-west France is more than 80% empty, the boats of the local sailing club stranded on its desiccated brown banks. In northern Italy, tourists can walk to the small island of San Biagio, normally reached […]

08 Mar 2023

A new NetworkNature knowledge database is available, bringing together European research, policy, projects and market-based tools in a searchable online database. It is easily searchable and includes multiple UK references. Introduction to the database As the recognition of the potential Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) grows, so too does the need for a robust evidence base and […]

08 Mar 2023

Help inform the delivery of high-quality SuDS and the implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act. WSP, CIWEM and CIRIA on behalf of Defra are undertaking a review of the skills and training needed, following Government’s acceptance of the recommendation to make SuDS mandatory in new developments. A survey has been […]

07 Mar 2023

Kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills are some of England’s most treasured seabirds that could benefit from proposed measures to ban sandeel fishing, Defra has announced today (Tuesday 7 March). Sandeels are small, eel like fish that are a vital food source to vulnerable seabirds, commercially important fish species such as haddock and whiting, and sea mammals […]