The Electricity Act 1989 (Requirement of Consent for Solar Generating Stations) (England) Order 2025, effective December 31, 2025, amends the 1989 Act to increase the permitted capacity of solar generating stations in England from 50 to 100 megawatts before requiring Secretary of State consent.

The Order applies to England and Wales and is supported by a separate impact assessment.

The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2021 Order to clarify the power to slaughter animals infected with tuberculosis, remove outdated references to the European Union Common Agricultural Policy, and broaden the Secretary of State's authority to publish information aiding tuberculosis prevention.

The amendment also adds several parishes to Schedule 3, expanding the specified areas covered under the order.

It comes into force on July 15, 2025 and covers England and Wales.

The Teversham Award Drains Variation Order 2025 confirms a revised scheme for maintaining the Award Drain in Teversham, Cambridgeshire. The Environment Agency submitted the original plan, which was modified and subsequently confirmed by the Secretary of State.

The order transfers responsibility for maintaining the revised drain to South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City Councils, specifying that the change takes effect upon the order's confirmation.

The schedule details the revised drain's definition, the effective date, and the councils’ joint responsibility for maintenance.

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.

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 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 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 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.