Environment Legislation

Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.

The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025

The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025 revoke 37 obsolete instruments, mostly related to the UK's former Euratom membership.

These regulations also revoke legacy transitional provisions concerning environmental assessments for electricity and pipeline works.

The changes simplify UK energy law, remove redundant provisions, and align the legal framework with the post-Brexit regulatory environment.

The Ivory Prohibitions (Exemptions) (Process and Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

These regulations amend the Ivory Prohibitions (Exemptions) (Process and Procedure) Regulations 2022 to add three national museums—in Merseyside, Northern Ireland, and Wales—to the list of institutions authorized to advise the Secretary of State on applications for exemption certificates under the Ivory Act 2018.

The amendment aims to improve the expertise and geographic reach of advice provided.

The Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage) (Retention of Information and Samples) Regulations 2025

Published: Tue 22nd Apr 25

The Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage) (Retention of Information and Samples) Regulations 2025, effective May 13, 2025, establish mandatory retention periods for carbon storage information and samples held by licensees.

The regulations cover various categories of information including survey, well, site, injection, production, monitoring, and installation data, specifying retention periods until a relevant event occurs or an information plan takes effect.

Similar requirements are outlined for the retention of samples, with stipulations about disposal notification and timeframes.

The regulations also address scenarios where a carbon storage license terminates, transferring responsibilities to a defined ‘responsible person’.

The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025

These regulations amend existing legislation in Northern Ireland to incorporate the latest EU ecodesign requirements for energy-related products and energy labelling.

The changes, implemented under the Windsor Framework, update the lists of products and their associated regulations, ensuring compliance with EU law.

Specific products covered include tumble dryers, space heaters, and smartphones, with staggered implementation dates.

The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Tue 15th Apr 25

The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2023 Order to make non-material changes to bycatch reduction measures.

Specifically, it revises the definition of "the offshore compensation measures" and modifies paragraphs 10-12 of Part 3 of Schedule 16, related to guillemot compensation, by updating consultation processes, predator eradication methods, and notification requirements.

The changes were made following an application under the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011 and are effective from April 14, 2025.

The Heckington Fen Solar Park (Correction) Order 2025

This order corrects errors in the Heckington Fen Solar Park Order 2025, a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008.

The Secretary of State approved corrections based on a written request from the applicant, which were then notified to the relevant local planning authorities.

The corrections amend several sections of the original order, updating references and coordinates, particularly in Schedules 1 and 13.

The effective date is April 14, 2025.

The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 10) Regulations 2025

The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 10) Regulations 2025, effective May 1, 2025, implement several sections of the Environment Act 2021 concerning biodiversity net gain.

These sections, primarily impacting planning permissions in England, introduce a condition within the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure that all new developments contribute towards increasing biodiversity.

The regulations clarify specific parts of the relevant legislation that come into effect and explain the integration of these additions into existing planning processes.

While no independent cost impact assessment was deemed necessary for these regulations, reference is made to a broader impact assessment on the Environment Act 2021.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 1986 Regulations to permit road use of hydrogen-fuelled agricultural vehicles, engineering plant, works trucks, and category T tractors.

The amendments introduce new safety requirements for hydrogen fuel systems, including stipulations for fuelling receptacles, pressure relief devices, leak prevention, and driver warnings.

These requirements align with UNECE regulations and aim to balance enabling the use of hydrogen technology with ensuring public and environmental safety.