Protected areas and species

Brexit impact

11 pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020 marks the end of the Brexit transition/implementation period entered into following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. At this point in time (referred to in UK law as ‘IP completion day’), key transitional arrangements come to an end and significant changes begin to take effect across the UK’s legal regime. Any changes relevant to this content will be set out below.

For further guidance, see Practice Note: Brexit—impact on environmental law and News Analysis: Brexit Bulletin—key updates, research tips and resources.

Protected Areas

Designated areas

Many areas with distinctive plants, animals, habitats, geology or landforms are protected at the international, European, national and local level. Some habitats have been identified as needing priority conservation action.

Site protection by designation is for the preservation and protection of valued species and habitats.

Sites can be designated under EU or national law and designation can be cumulative. EU designated sites are Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and form part of the Natura 2000 network. Sites which are protected at an international level include Ramsar

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Latest Planning News

Planning weekly highlights—27 November 2025

This week’s edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: the key planning announcements in the Budget 2025; DESNZ’s response on EV charging infrastructure and planning; the Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025; the consultation outcome on the new higher-risk building control regime in Wales; a court decision on section 73 permission and BNG calculations in a reserved matters approval; the Chief Planner’s planning update newsletter; and the Cory Decarbonisation Project Order 2025.

Chief Planner’s planning update newsletter for November 2025 published

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the planning update newsletter for November 2025, written for chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). The newsletter outlines reforms announced by the Housing Secretary to accelerate development near well-connected train and tram stations, including minimum density standards and changes to call-in procedures, such as removing mandatory public inquiries for called-in applications. It also invites responses to MHCLG’s consultation on statutory consultee reforms—proposals include removing Sport England, the Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust from the statutory list—with feedback due by 13 January 2026. LPAs are reminded to update their plan preparation timetables and publish Infrastructure Funding Statements by 31 December 2025. The newsletter highlights the opening of applications for the Pathways to Planning graduate scheme, offering educational bursaries of £10,000 and potential salary bursaries of £40,000 for authorities with high housing delivery needs. It further announces MHCLG’s Planning Skills and Capacity Survey, with registration closing on 6 December 2025, and provides updates on the Department for Transport’s review of the Airports National Policy Statement. Additional items include changes to Natural England’s statutory advice obligations, new standing advice on air quality, Public Practice’s recruitment training for local government, and the launch of free e-learning modules on coastal planning by the Environment Agency and Town and Country Planning Association.

Welsh Government publishes outcome of consultation on new higher-risk building control regime

The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses and final decisions on proposals for a new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to building regulations in Wales, following its March 2025 consultation. Respondents showed strong support across all major areas, particularly dutyholder roles, competence requirements, the golden thread of information, Gateway processes and strengthened enforcement powers. Around 80% of respondents agreed to introducing clear duties for clients, designers, principal designers, contractors and principal contractors, alongside requirements to demonstrate competence and record appointment decisions. Respondents also supported secure, accessible and transferable golden thread information, comprehensive documentation at Gateway 2, mandatory occurrence reporting, strengthened change-control processes and storing information on work in existing higher-risk buildings.

Budget 2025—key Planning announcements

In the Autumn Budget 2025, delivered on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, confirmed the government’s commitment to ‘rebuild Britain’. The Budget reinforced the government’s ambitions on housing supply, planning reform, economic growth and regional regeneration. Chrisa Tsompani, partner at Davitt Jones Bould, and Fiona Sawyer, knowledge lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, comment on these measures.