environment

The recent reports of the Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Michael Gove thinking about the future of nutrient neutrality through further changes to the LURB Bill (see for example ENDS reports 12 July 2023 and 24 July 2023) have got us thinking. True, the housing crisis is not assisted by the nutrient neutrality rules. But […]

Please join us for our upcoming webinar with Iona Silverman, our London IP & Media Partner. The one-hour webinar will focus on how our planet is facing an environmental crisis, putting huge political and consumer pressure on all businesses to be as sustainable as possible. This is a hot topic for the UK regulators, and […]

An article discussing how local authorities in England can create habitat banking mechanisms to assist developers in achieving their mandatory biodiversity net gain requirements for new developments under the town and country planning regime. Reproduced from Practical Law with the permission of the publishers. For further information visit www.practicallaw.com This article considers the opportunities for […]

Background A Planning Inspector has dismissed an appeal for 71 dwellings at Toddington Lane in Arun. This is partly due to the risk that granting planning permission could jeopardise the delivery of the balance of the Hampton Park Urban Extension, which provides for a far greater number of dwellings, infrastructure, community and other non-residential uses. […]

Summary The previous Court of Appeal decision in the Hillside Parks Ltd case has caused considerable difficulties in practice, particularly on large developments, for the common practice of lodging “slot-in” planning applications to change parts of the development. The Supreme Court has now issued its landmark judgment on the issue. Merioneth County Council granted planning […]

Summary From 1 October 2022, the Eurasian Beaver will be afforded further legal protection in England as a European Protected Species (EPS) under changes to the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (Habitats Regulations). The Eurasian Beaver will also receive further legal protection through some changes to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA […]

There are three new changes coming into force today (30 September 2022). These changes apply to England only. WHAT HAS CHANGED? First, section 111 of the Environment Act (“EA 2021”) amends the wildlife licensing regime in England under s16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“WCA 1981”). The amendments to s16 WCA 1981 will […]

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill was introduced into Parliament by the Government on 11 May 2022 with the purpose of ‘transforming struggling towns and cities, supporting local leaders to take back control of regeneration.’ Below we discuss what we consider to be the key planning changes in the Bill and their implications. Legal Update National […]

The white paper published in February 2022 proposed the Government’s new plans to end the ‘geographical inequalities across the UK’ with planning and infrastructure playing its part to addressing the issue. The Queen’s Speech delivered on the 10th May confirmed the proposals to be brought into law and policy on planning and infrastructure. Below we […]

Introduction In the recent High Court judgment of Wyatt, R. (On the Application of) v Fareham Borough Council [2021] EWHC 1434 (Admin) (28 May 2021) relating to Habitats Regulations Assessments (“HRAs”), Mr Justice Jay rejected the challenges made by a local resident objector group to the grant of planning permission for a small housing development […]