Festival season—using the law effectively to protect the environment

Table of contents

• Driving change
• Demanding environmental conditions in planning decisions
• Adding environmental conditions in licences
• Tackling ‘nuisance’ and noise
• Protected wildlife or areas
• Changing priorities
• Government action

Article summary

Environment analysis: With festival season underway, we look at the environmental impact of these large-scale music events and how they can be adapted to have a less damaging effect. Some festivals are already taking action to reduce their waste and carbon footprints and Jeremy Pike, barrister at Francis Taylor Building, and Richard Voke, partner and ex-regulator at Temple Bright, discuss the roles of local authorities, festival organisers and consumers in promoting environmental awareness and incorporating it into licensing decisions and onsite behaviour. Pike explains how existing legislation can best be utilised to protect the environment in large live music events, while Voke suggests how it can be improved to reflect changing consumer priorities.