Environment Legislation

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

The Hovercraft (Application of Enactments) (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Fri 17th Oct 25

The Order amended the 1989 Order, updating the application of key maritime enactments, including casualty investigations, pollution control, safety rules, and fee structures, to govern UK hovercraft operations.


The Hovercraft (Application of Enactments) (Amendment) Order 2025, made by His Majesty in Council, amends the principal 1989 Order to ensure that current maritime legislation concerning casualty investigations, pollution prevention, safety regulations, fees, and ambulatory references to international instruments applies correctly to hovercraft as it applies to ships across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

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The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025

The Secretary of State for Transport issued the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025 on October 14, 2025, to amend specific drafting errors within the previous 2024 Development Consent Order relating to document references, statutory wording, and the inclusion of environmental assessment addenda.


This Order officially corrects specific errors and omissions identified in the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent Order 2024, which was granted under the Planning Act 2008.

The Secretary of State for Transport issued this correction following a formal request from the applicant, implementing textual changes to articles, schedules, and updating the list of certified documents to ensure legal accuracy and clarity regarding the approved development.

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The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment and Transitional) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 13th Oct 25

* The Secretary of State exercised powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 to amend the 2001 Regulations, introducing Schedule 6A for updated noise measurement methods and establishing transitional arrangements.


The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment and Transitional) Regulations 2025 primarily amend the 2001 Regulations by incorporating updated noise measurement standards, primarily through the introduction of a new Schedule 6A detailing methods to measure airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors, and these changes extend to England, Wales, and Scotland and come into force on April 13th, 2026, with provisions made to allow industry to transition away from the old methods until May 2028.

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The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey) Order 2025

The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey) Order 2025 established September 24, 2025, as the end of the access preparation period for specified coastal land.


This order sets September 24, 2025, as the end of the access preparation period for coastal land between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey.

The decision follows the approval by the Secretary of State of Natural England's proposals, detailed in six reports, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

The order cites the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 as its legal basis and clarifies terms and definitions used in the approval process.

Copies of the Secretary of State’s notices of approval are available online and through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Isle of Wight) (No. 1) Order 2025

The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Isle of Wight) (No. 1) Order 2025 set the end date for the access preparation period for specified coastal areas on the Isle of Wight to September 17, 2025.


This Order establishes September 17, 2025, as the end date for the access preparation period for coastal margin land on the Isle of Wight.

The decision is based on approvals granted by the Secretary of State for proposals outlined in reports by Natural England concerning coastal access routes.

The Order cites the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 as its legal basis.

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The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025

The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025 corrected errors and omissions identified in the 2025 Development Consent Order.


This order corrects errors and omissions within the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025.

The corrections, requested by the applicant and the Kent Downs National Landscape Team, were made under the Planning Act 2008 and involve alterations to various articles and schedules, including modifications of definitions, article text, and table entries.

The order ensures the accuracy of the original consent order, improving clarity and facilitating the project’s efficient implementation.

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The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The 2025 regulations amended the 2021 Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations, lowering peat burning thresholds, updating definitions, adding licensing grounds for research, and removing outdated elements.


The Heather and Grass etc.

Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2021 regulations governing vegetation burning on peatland in England.

Key changes include lowering the peat depth threshold for burning prohibitions from 40cm to 30cm, removing the definition of ‘designated site’, introducing a definition of ‘less favoured area’, updating references in the definition of ‘upland area’, modifying licensing grounds to include historic feature protection and research purposes, and removing a licensing ground.

These changes aim to improve environmental protection, streamline regulations, and align with current mapping and policy.

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The Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Riverside Energy Park) (England) Order 2025

An exemption from the electricity generation license requirement was granted to Riverside Energy Park Limited for its Riverside 2 facility in Belvedere, London, subject to specific conditions.


The Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Riverside Energy Park) (England) Order 2025 grants an indefinite exemption to Riverside Energy Park Limited from the requirement of obtaining a generation license for its Riverside 2 energy from waste facility in Belvedere, London.

This exemption is subject to conditions limiting power export to 100 megawatts and requiring connection to the national grid.

The order applies only to England and was enacted under the Electricity Act 1989.

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