United Kingdom: Environmental Law

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Environmental law articles, insights, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as clean air/pollution, climate change, environmental law and waste management.
Article
Reflections On The Wild Summit 2026
The Wild Summit 2026 brought together campaigners, policymakers, scientists and community organisers in Bristol to explore how nature-friendly farming, urban wetland restoration, and tree equity can drive meaningful environmental recovery. From conservation covenants to Bristol's bid to become the UK's first Ramsar-accredited Wetland City, discover the practical strategies shaping the future of sustainable land use and development.
United Kingdom Environment
BS
Burges Salmon
Article
Infrastructure Planning Blog 70: Statistics On Major Projects, Tech Updates, And Applying The New NPPF
The Planning Inspectorate's latest statistics reveal mixed progress on nationally significant infrastructure projects, with examination times improving but pre-application periods lengthening. A landmark High Court judgment clarifies how NPPF highway impact thresholds should be applied in planning decisions, while early interpretations of the revised NPPF demonstrate how exceptional circumstances tests are being used to approve countryside development despite character concerns.
United Kingdom Real Estate
TLT
Article
Environment Agency Consults On Updates To Its Enforcement And Sanctions Policy
The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on significant reforms to its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy, introducing new civil penalty frameworks and automatic financial penalties for water companies under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025. The proposed changes expand enforcement mechanisms across multiple sectors including waste management, packaging regimes, and mercury controls, while establishing a fundamentally different regulatory approach for water sector operators that allows penalties
United Kingdom Environment
BS
Burges Salmon
Article
Rewilding And Carbon Credits: A New Income Stream For Landowners
As sustainability pressures mount and net-zero targets drive demand for carbon offsetting, UK landowners face a significant opportunity to generate income through carbon credit schemes. With the market contributing £1.2 billion to the UK economy in 2025 and carbon credits trading at £25-£35 per tonne, peatland restoration and woodland creation projects offer substantial returns while enhancing biodiversity and environmental protection.
United Kingdom Environment
WL
Withers LLP
Article
New EU Green Claims Rules: Is Your Business Ready?
Businesses operating across the UK and EU face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape for environmental and sustainability claims, with the EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive taking effect in September 2026. Regulators now possess significant enforcement powers, including fines up to 10% of turnover, and are demonstrating clear appetite to challenge greenwashing. Organizations must review their environmental claims and governance processes to ensure compliance in this fast-ev
European Union Consumer
WB
Womble Bond Dickinson
Article
Heat Networks Regulation: Comply By Partnering
The Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025 have introduced a comprehensive regulatory regime for heat networks in Great Britain, with Ofgem serving as the regulator. Operating a relevant heat network without proper authorisation is now a criminal offence, yet many organisations may not realise they fall under these new regulations or understand their compliance obligations.
United Kingdom Environment
BS
Burges Salmon
Article
EU Sustainability Omnibus Package: Key Changes And Implications For Businesses
The European Union has introduced a comprehensive Sustainability Omnibus Package that will significantly impact how businesses across member states approach environmental, social, and governance reporting. Understanding these regulatory changes is crucial for companies operating in or with the EU to ensure compliance and adapt their sustainability strategies accordingly.
European Union Environment
ES
Eversheds Sutherland
Article
Infrastructure Planning Blog 67: Put Out More Flags
The Chancellor has issued a striking letter to ministers addressing consultation culture, legal risk, and judicial review in infrastructure planning. This entry examines the implications for DCO regimes, explores cost recovery concerns, reviews Scottish wind farm EIA requirements following the Raeshaw Farms judgment, and analyzes Irish planning reforms alongside a recent English housing refusal involving industrial pollution.
United Kingdom Real Estate
TLT
Article
Infrastructure Planning Blog 65: A Beacon Of Light
The UK Secretary of State has approved the Beacon Fen Energy Park, a landmark solar development featuring 400MW of generation capacity and 600MW of battery storage—the largest battery component in any UK development consent order to date. This decision introduces significant precedents regarding best and most versatile agricultural land impacts, protective provisions for third-party infrastructure, and the evolving interpretation of associated development guidance in major energy projects.
United Kingdom Energy
TLT
Article
From Replacement To Repair: What The EU Right To Repair Directive Means For Businesses
The EU's Right to Repair Directive, which entered into force on 31 July 2026, introduces comprehensive measures to encourage product repair and extend consumer goods' lifespan as part of the bloc's circular economy strategy. Alongside the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the Green Transition Directive, these reforms impose new obligations on manufacturers, importers, and distributors to make products more durable and repairable while providing enhanced consumer information about repair opti
European Union Consumer
TLT
Article
Environmental Law Update | August 2026
This comprehensive environmental law update examines significant regulatory changes across biodiversity net gain, waste tracking, carbon border adjustments, PFAS chemicals, water company enforcement, and infrastructure planning reforms. The analysis explores how new regulations will reshape environmental compliance obligations for businesses, landowners, and developers while examining the balance between regulatory protection and operational flexibility.
United Kingdom Environment
FL
Freeths LLP
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