Environment Legislation
Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.
The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025
The 2025 regulations amended the 2012 Town and Country Planning fees for applications, deemed applications, requests, and site visits in England, increasing several fees and introducing a new fee structure for section 73 applications.
These regulations amend the 2012 Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations.
Several fees are increased, including those for prior approval applications, confirmation of compliance with planning conditions, and section 73 applications.
A new three-tiered fee structure for section 73 applications is introduced.
Transitional provisions ensure that the amendments do not apply to applications or requests made before the regulations' commencement date (April 1, 2025), while delaying the application of the annual fee increase provided for in regulation 18A to April 1, 2026.
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Order 2025
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Order 2025 authorized the operation and maintenance of a heritage railway, including a level crossing, and established procedures for its potential transfer.
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Order 2025 grants the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Company permission to operate and maintain its railway, including a level crossing, and establishes procedures for its potential transfer.
The order specifies details regarding the railway, its maintenance, and the required safety protocols at its level crossing.
It also details processes for transferring ownership or lease of the railway.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The regulations amended existing legislation concerning persistent organic pollutants, updating concentration limits and exemptions, and adding several new substances to relevant annexes.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants.
Key changes include updated concentration limits and exemptions for several substances in Annexes 1, 4, and 5, reflecting changes to the Stockholm Convention and international best practices.
The amendments add new substances, including Dechlorane Plus, Methoxychlor, and UV-328, to Annex 1 and update waste management provisions and derogations for several substances in Annexes 4 and 5.
A de minimis assessment indicates minimal overall economic impact.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Humber Bridge to Easington) Order 2025
The Order established March 26, 2025, as the end date for the access preparation period for the coastal margin land between Humber Bridge and Easington.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Humber Bridge to Easington) Order 2025 sets March 26, 2025, as the end date for the access preparation period for coastal margin land between the Humber Bridge and Easington.
This follows the Secretary of State's approval of Natural England's report proposing a coastal access path in this area, based on the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amended the permitted uses of Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 in line with EU regulations.
These regulations amend the UK's implementation of the EU's Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.
Specifically, they modify the permitted uses of Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, allowing their continued use in certain applications, such as aerospace, defense, and medical devices, until specific dates in 2030 and 2044.
The amendments also clarify permitted use for replacement parts and repairs within those applications.
The regulations ensure consistency with previous UK legislation (S.I. 2025/296).
The Certification of Fuels and Fireplaces (Charges) (England) Regulations 2025
The Certification of Fuels and Fireplaces (Charges) (England) Regulations 2025 were enacted, setting charges for wood fuel, manufactured solid fuel, and fireplace certifications to fund the associated compliance and auditing processes.
These regulations establish charges for the certification of wood fuel, manufactured solid fuels, and fireplaces in England, under the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020.
The regulations detail the specific charges for various application types and supplier categories, including initial applications, recertification, compliance checks, and audits.
These are payable to appointed assessment bodies and are intended to fund the certification process, which helps enforce smoke control measures and contributes to cleaner air, in line with the UK's obligations under the Gothenburg Protocol.
The REACH Fees and Charges (Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 340/2008) Regulations 2025
The 2025 regulations amended fees payable to the HSE under UK REACH, adjusting for inflation and costs, and specifying changes to various annexes of the regulation.
These regulations amend fees payable to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the UK REACH regulations.
The amendments adjust various fees across multiple annexes (Annex 1-7) of the overarching REACH regulation, which sets fees for chemical registrations and authorisations.
The adjustments consider changes in the consumer price index and HSE administrative costs.
The changes affect fees for different sized businesses and different applications and differ in their variations
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025
The 2025 Order designated numerous central government bodies for inclusion in departmental supply estimates and resource accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 designates numerous central government bodies as 'designated bodies' for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.
This designation is for their inclusion in the supply estimates and resource accounts of their respective government departments.
The order covers various government departments and agencies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
It is based on powers granted by the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 and includes consultations with devolved administrations.