31 Jul 2025
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is to conclude its investigation into the regulation of combined sewer overflows after securing significant progress in tackling the issues it has raised. Through its investigation the OEP found that there have been failures to comply with environmental law by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), […]
21 Jan 2025
Progress towards improving the environment has slowed with government still largely off track in achieving its legal environmental commitments, the latest annual assessment by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found. The OEP report provides an assessment of progress towards legally-binding environment targets, commitments and goals. The report covers the period 1 April 2023 […]
14 Jan 2025
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) have launched an investigation into Defra in relation to a suspected failure to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine waters by the statutory deadline. Under the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, the statutory deadline for GES to be achieved was 31 December […]
24 Sep 2024
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has submitted advice to the Defra Secretary of State on reviewing and updating Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan. Steve Reed, Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced a review of the EIP with the intention of developing ‘ambitious new plans to save nature’. He has formally requested […]
14 May 2024
‘Deeply concerning’ failures to properly implement regulations designed to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters in England mean key targets for improvement will be missed, a report by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found. The OEP has carried out a review of the key legislation regarding water quality – the Water Framework Directive […]
19 Mar 2024
The Office for Environmental Protection is investigating the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary of State (SoS) and Natural England over possible failures to comply with environmental law in relation to Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for wild birds, it has announced. The investigation will seek to determine whether Defra SoS and Natural […]
21 Jan 2024
In the first major review of the Environment Improvement Plan, advisors warn that the UK Government is off-track, and risks missing the legally-binding target to halt nature decline by 2030. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has concluded that Government needs to speed up and scale up delivery. It also warns that the plan lacks transparency and […]
05 Dec 2023
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched a call for evidence to support a review of the drivers, pressures and data gaps affecting the achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) in UK marine waters. Evidence submitted will help inform the OEP’s work to drive positive change on critical issues impacting the marine environment. […]
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