Environment Legislation
Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Bawdsey to Aldeburgh) Order 2026
Designated 24th June 2026 as the date ending the access preparation period for the coastal path between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh.
This Order establishes June 24, 2026, as the date on which the access preparation period ends for land designated as coastal margin between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
It applies to land identified in five specific reports submitted by Natural England and approved by the Secretary of State under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
By concluding the access preparation period, the Order triggers the legal commencement of public access rights to this stretch of coastal land under the terms of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Increased the central service fee for Clean Air Zone payments from £2 to £4 and extended the fee liability period until 2031.
These Regulations amend the Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) Regulations 2020 to increase the financial obligations of local charging authorities to the Secretary of State.
The instrument raises the fee per processed payment from £2 to £4 when the central services system is used to handle Clean Air Zone charges.
Furthermore, it extends the duration for which authorities are liable to pay these fees through 31st March 2031, applying specifically to charging authorities within England.
The Taxation of Chargeable Gains (Gilt-edged Securities) Order 2026
Designated eleven specific government-issued bonds as gilt-edged securities to exempt them from capital gains and corporation tax.
This Order specifies eleven additional sterling-denominated government securities as 'gilt-edged securities' for the purposes of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
By designating these securities, the Treasury ensures that any gains realized on their disposal are exempt from capital gains tax for individuals and corporation tax for companies.
The order applies to any person or corporate entity disposing of the listed securities, which include various Treasury Gilts and Index-linked Treasury Gilts maturing between 2029 and 2056.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea) (No. 2) Order 2026
Designated 24 June 2026 as the end of the coastal access preparation period for the Southwold to Lowestoft stretch of the England Coast Path.
This Order establishes June 24, 2026, as the formal end of the access preparation period for specific stretches of the Suffolk coastline between Southwold and Lowestoft.
It applies to land designated as coastal margin within the England Coast Path sectors AHS4 and AHS5, effectively enabling public access rights under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Order affects landowners, local authorities, and the general public by concluding the legal window reserved for physical preparations and land management changes required for the new long-distance route.
The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026
Set a limit of zero carbon units that may be credited to the net UK carbon account for the 2028-2032 budgetary period, excluding units related to emissions trading schemes.
The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026 establishes the maximum amount of carbon units that can be credited to the net UK carbon account for the 2028-2032 budgetary period.
It directs that this limit be set at zero, effectively preventing the use of international carbon credits to meet national carbon budgets for that specific timeframe, except for units associated with emissions trading systems.
The order applies to the calculation of the net UK carbon account, overseen by the Secretary of State and relevant national authorities in the devolved administrations.
The Carbon Budget Order 2026
Established a maximum limit of 535 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for the UK's net carbon account between 2038 and 2042.
This Order establishes the legal limit for the net UK carbon account during the five-year budgetary period spanning 2038 to 2042.
It directs that the total greenhouse gas emissions, minus removals and credits, must not exceed 535,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The Order applies to the whole of the United Kingdom and functions as a secondary legislative instrument under the Climate Change Act 2008 to ensure progress toward the 2050 net-zero target.
The Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment etc.) Order 2026
Expanded UK marine licensing requirements to include various activities conducted by UK persons or vessels in international waters and the high seas.
This Order expands the scope of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by designating ten new categories of licensable marine activities conducted in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as the high seas and the international seabed.
It requires British vessels, aircraft, structures, and 'United Kingdom persons' to obtain licenses for activities including depositing substances, scuttling vessels, constructing works, dredging, and using explosives in these areas.
The Order also establishes specific exemptions for activities that do not require environmental impact assessments and aligns the new regulations with existing Scottish marine legislation and cable maintenance protocols.
The Sunnica Energy Farm (Amendment) Order 2026
Amended the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024 to update several project plans and reference documents certified under the development consent.
This Order modifies the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024 by updating the list of certified documents that govern the energy farm's development.
It replaces specific rows in Schedule 10 of the original 2024 Order to incorporate updated versions of access and rights of way plans, the book of reference, land and Crown land plans, traffic regulation measures plans, and works plans.
These changes apply to the Sunnica Energy Farm project and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.