15 Mar 2023
Defra announced last week that four swimming areas in England have progressed to public consultation stage to be considered for bathing water designation. They are Sykes Lane bathing beach and Whitwell Creek at Rutland Water, Firestone Bay in Plymouth, and a section of the River Deben at Waldringfield, Suffolk. Read more and access the consultation, […]
14 Mar 2023
Defra are launching a competition with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to enhance the resilience, health and wellbeing of UK coastal communities and seas. The objectives are to: Apply place-based approaches seeking to transform our understanding of climatic, environmental, health, economic, social, and cultural factors affecting coastal communities and seas; Support the resilient management of […]
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
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
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 […]
28 Feb 2023
Defra has today announced that the Government will designate the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters. The three sites being taken forward are Allonby Bay (Irish Sea), Dolphin Head (Eastern Channel) and North East of Farnes Deep (Northern North Sea). The Government consulted on five pilot sites last year, receiving over 900 responses. […]
28 Feb 2023
The High Court has given permission for a hearing to take place on whether the government’s plan for reducing sewage dumping is too lenient in what could potentially be “the most consequential environmental law case in recent history” according to the non-profit supporting the case, reported in New Civil Engineer. Defra released the Storm […]
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