The Coastal Concordat for England Setting out how regulatory bodies can co-ordinate the separate processes for coastal development consents in England. The coastal concordat sets out the separate processes for consenting coastal developments in England. This revised version replaces the original published on 11 November 2013. It supports decision-making between Local Authorities and those regulators […]

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Hansard      Rebecca Pow ‘It is, as ever, a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Hosie, especially on this auspicious World Oceans Day. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Selaine Saxby) for securing this debate on this day. She expresses so much passion for the sea and the ocean, which […]

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Defra tenders £200k research project on current environment harms caused by farming in England The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has gone out to tender with a contract for a research project on current environment harms caused by farming and land management activities in England worth an estimated £200,000. Defra is looking to establish […]

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Another example of the way Defra and Ministers are approaching the growing problem of nutrient pollution from farming and other inputs. The most recent site example is the downgrading of ecological status on the Somerset levels. Angling Trust ‘Government says it has ‘no legal obligation’ to produce reports – six years after consent order. WWF, […]

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There is a torrent of information on the Defra website at present in connection with sustainable farming standards, including on how land managers can create lakes and ponds to benefit wildlife and improve the landscape.  Defra ‘Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot: environmental outcomes and benefits The 8 standards include one on ‘Water Body Buffering’ will help […]

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The long pause in the Environment Bill has prompted more ideas for what might be included and several of these have been incorporated into the Bill – notably on sewage pollution from storm overflows and state of nature targets for wildlife. Defra Environment Bill continues through Parliament ‘New amendments will include legally-binding 2030 species target […]

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The appointment of Richard Benyon as Defra minister in the House of Lords has prompted a rethink within the NFFO on its approach to the management of marine protected areas. In a long blog post, NFFO sets out its views and concerns: “To this point, our approach has been to challenge the Government’s shift from […]

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