Environment Legislation
Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.
The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
These regulations, issued under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, bring into effect sections 3 and 5 of that Act on June 23, 2025.
This specifically mandates water and sewerage undertakers in England to create and publish annual pollution reduction plans, and incorporate nature-based solutions into their drainage and sewerage management plans.
The regulations include enforcement measures for non-compliance.
The Oxfordshire County Council (Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge) Scheme 2024 Confirmation Instrument 2025
This legal instrument confirms the Oxfordshire County Council's scheme to build a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Thames in Oxford.
The bridge's design, location, and dimensions are detailed, along with confirmation that navigational requirements were considered.
The instrument cites the Highways Act 1980 as legal authority.
The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025
The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2023 and 2024 Orders to clarify the calculation of vehicle emissions targets for manufacturers.
It specifies that vehicles first registered in either the UK or EU are to be included in these calculations, using the EU Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as a basis for calculation for both a UK specific and EU specific target.
The manufacturer's final target is the higher of the two calculated in this way.
The Order ensures consistency and clarity in application, supporting the UK's climate change goals while considering the implications of Brexit and retaining UK control and clarity over emission reduction targets.
The Order takes effect on 2nd October 2025 and applies across the UK.
The Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025
The Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025 amends the Planning Act 2008 to redefine nationally significant infrastructure projects.
It removes the exclusion of onshore wind from this designation and sets a capacity threshold of over 100 megawatts for onshore wind and solar projects to fall under this act.
Transitional provisions address applications and decisions made before the order's effective date (December 31, 2025), ensuring ongoing projects aren't disrupted.
The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025 revise the 1995 Antarctic Regulations to reflect decisions from four recent Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
The regulations update the lists of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments (AHSMs), adding new sites and revising existing descriptions.
Several ASPAs and AHSMs have been removed, with revised descriptions provided for others.
New sites are added, along with updated geographical coordinates and descriptions that improve management and conservation.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (St Mawes to Cremyll) Order 2025
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (St Mawes to Cremyll) Order 2025 sets June 4th, 2025, as the end of the access preparation period for coastal land between St Mawes and Cremyll in Cornwall.
This follows the Secretary of State's approval of Natural England's plans for a long-distance coastal path, as outlined in several reports submitted in 2019 and 2020.
The order references the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and clarifies the legal framework for public access to this section of the proposed path.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Penzance to St Mawes) Order 2025
This order sets June 4th, 2025, as the official end date for the access preparation period along the coastal margin from Penzance to St Mawes.
The decision is based on the Secretary of State's approval of Natural England's proposals, documented in nine specific reports.
This formally opens this section of coast to public access.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Newquay to Penzance) (No. 2) Order 2025
This order establishes June 4th, 2025, as the end of the access preparation period for the coastal margin section of the England Coast Path between Newquay and Penzance.
This decision follows the Secretary of State's approval of Natural England's proposals, detailed in several reports submitted in 2019 and 2020.
The order cites the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 as its legal basis.