Environment Legislation
Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.
The Wildlife Licence Charges (England) Order 2025
The Wildlife Licence Charges (England) Order 2025, effective March 28, 2025, establishes new fees for wildlife licenses issued by Natural England under various Acts and Regulations.
It details fixed and variable charges based on application complexity and time spent processing the application, outlining exceptions for public safety, serious damage prevention, certain conservation purposes and development projects.
The Order also revokes the 2018 equivalent, maintaining the previous order's standards for applications submitted before the effective date.
The Movement of Goods (Northern Ireland to Great Britain) (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Transitory Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
These regulations create a temporary system for moving specific goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, mirroring checks on imports from non-EU countries.
This involves applying existing legislation with modifications and specifying entry points.
The regulations also amend other legislation connected to defining ‘qualifying Northern Ireland goods’ to reflect ongoing changes in applicable law.
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025 designates numerous public and local government bodies to provide financial information to the Treasury for the 2024-2025 financial year.
This data is used to compile the Whole of Government Accounts, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in public spending.
The Order came into force on March 18, 2025, and applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Treasury consulted with Welsh Ministers where deemed appropriate.
The Associated British Ports (Immingham Green Energy Terminal) Order 2025
This Order grants development consent and authorises the construction, operation, and maintenance of a multi-user marine terminal at Immingham Port for importing and exporting bulk liquids.
It incorporates relevant provisions of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847, addresses street works, land acquisition (including compulsory purchase powers), and temporary land possession, outlining compensation procedures and protective measures for various stakeholders.
The order also includes stipulations for environmental management, decommissioning, and compliance with maritime regulations, along with detailed operational and general provisions.
The Environmental Permitting (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The regulations establish new requirements for electricity generating stations in England to demonstrate their readiness for future decarbonisation through either carbon capture and storage (CCS) or hydrogen conversion.
Operators must submit detailed technical and economic feasibility assessments when applying for environmental permits, proving they can meet specific conditions for either CCS readiness or hydrogen conversion readiness.
The regulations replace existing Carbon Capture Readiness requirements and extend to both inland and territorial waters adjacent to England.
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025, effective March 31, 2025, establish exemptions to existing regulations regarding waste separation in England and Wales.
These exemptions permit the combined collection of certain recyclable waste streams (metal, glass, plastic) by English waste collection authorities.
Additionally, the regulations exempt micro-firms from certain waste collection requirements until March 31, 2027.
The regulations were drafted in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and following consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025
This Order implements significant changes to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), primarily splitting the 2026-2030 allocation period into two separate periods: a one-year 2026 allocation period and a four-year 2027-2030 allocation period.
It establishes new processes for free allocation of emissions allowances, modifies eligibility criteria for ultra-small emitters, enhances registry transparency requirements, and expands information sharing powers for climate change policy development.
The Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Extensions Offshore Wind Farm (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order amends the 2024 Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Extensions Offshore Wind Farm Order, incorporating non-material changes.
These alterations include specifications for minimum air gaps between wind turbine blades and HAT, adjustments to documentation requirements listed in Schedule 18, and other numerical updates to various parameters within Schedule 2.
The amendments follow an application under paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008 and a review process adhering to the 2011 Regulations.