The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that it will not introduce legislation in 2026 to amend the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown steps applying from 1 January 2027 under Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015. Following assessment of 137 consultation responses to its November 2025 consultation on amendments to the HFC phasedown schedule, Defra concluded that further work is required before reforms are implemented.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation seeking views on whether a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance fee should be set for 2025, and on the proposed management of the fee. The WEEE compliance fee is agreed and administered annually, allowing companies that do not meet their annual collection targets to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013, SI 2013/3113, by paying the fee instead. The consultation closes on 10 November 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched two consultations, seeking views on (1) improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium, and brownfield developments and (2) implementing the BNG requirement for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). The first consultation explores potential options such as extending exemptions, simplifying the small sites metric, increasing access to the off-site market, and addressing challenges specific to brownfield developments. The second consultation proposes introducing the BNG requirement for NSIPs from May 2026. Both consultations close on 24 July 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation seeking views on an application from the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) for a regulatory justification decision on the Rolls-Royce small modular reactor (SMR). Justification is an early regulatory step that must be met before a new type of nuclear reactor can be deployed in the UK. The consultation invites input on: (1) whether the proposed practice constitutes a new or existing class or type of practice; (2) whether the proposed practice is a suitably defined class or type of practice for a justification decision; and (3) whether the information in the application and supplementary documents is sufficient for Defra to appropriately assess the balance of benefits and detriments of the proposed practice. The consultation closes on 1 December 2025. The Secretary of State, acting as the Justifying Authority, will consider all responses before producing a draft decision document for further public consultation. This draft will set out the Justifying Authority’s view on whether or not the Rolls-Royce SMR should be justified in the UK and, if so, propose the most appropriate definition of the class or type of practice.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to marine licence fees, exemptions and self-service licences. The consultation seeks views on: (1) increasing fees for the marine licensing service provided by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO); (2) updating the list of activities that require a marine licence by adding five new exemptions, amending four existing exemptions, and removing certain others; and (3) introducing two new self-service licences. These changes aim to enhance the efficiency and cost recovery of the marine licensing service. The consultation applies to the English inshore and offshore regions, as well as the Northern Ireland offshore region regulated by the MMO. The consultation closes on 15 August 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposed environmental compensatory measures reforms (ECMR) for offshore wind developments. These reforms will be implemented under the Energy Act 2023 (EnA 2023) through a statutory instrument (SI) and associated guidance, and aim to clarify compensation requirements where offshore wind projects cause unavoidable harm to marine protected areas (MPAs). Defra is proposing a more flexible and pragmatic compensation framework, including a broader range of compensatory measures. The consultation closes on 2 September 2025, and the feedback will inform the final version of both the SI and the guidance. Defra plans to lay the SI and publish the final guidance later in 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened a consultation seeking views on proposed legislative changes to better protect certain species of wild birds in the UK. The consultation aims to reflect the conservation needs of species currently listed under Part 1, Schedule 2 (2.1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981), which allows limited exemptions for the shooting of ducks, geese and waders outside the close season. It proposes removing some species from the schedule, extending the close season for others and adding woodpigeon so it can have a close season during its breeding period. The consultation closes on 17 May 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposed UK Best Available Techniques (BAT) aimed at reducing emissions across several industrial sectors. The consultation will cover ferrous metals, including galvanising and forming, textiles and common waste gas management and treatment in the chemicals sector. Defra is seeking views on proposed techniques, associated emission levels and performance targets to ensure that the final standards are both practical and workable for operators. The aim of the updated techniques is to establish clear expectations for industrial sites to protect people and the environment. The consultation closes on 14 May 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation, seeking views on proposed amendments to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/158. The proposals include: (1) extending the ban of burning on deep peat to cover a larger area of upland peat, increasing the protected area by 146,000 hectares; (2) revising the definition of deep peat to include peat over 30cm deep; and (3) amending the licensing regime to allow land managers and owners to apply for a licence to burn peatlands in limited circumstances. Applicants must demonstrate why alternative methods are ineffective and outline a plan to transition the land away from the need for future burning. The consultation closes on 25 May 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has opened a consultation on its proposed approach to the fifth round of reporting under the Adaptation Reporting Power (ARP5), seeking views on plans to widen the scope of reporting to include Strategic Authorities and to introduce targeted mandatory reporting to address under‑reporting. It also proposes smaller sector‑specific changes developed with sector stakeholders. The consultation closes on 20 May 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to designate 13 new sites in England as bathing waters in line with the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, SI 2013/1675. The proposed sites include coastal and inland waters across England, ranging from Little Shore in Northumberland to sections of the River Thames at Ham and Kingston. Defra invites stakeholders to comment on the practical suitability of each site for designation, including the availability of appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support bathing, whether any additional measures would be required and whether designation could result in specific environmental or local impacts. The consultation closes on 23 March 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to how exemptions are set and amended under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1154. The proposals aim to simplify and expedite the process for lead regulators, such as the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, to create, amend, and remove exempt facilities and activities that do not require an environmental permit. The changes will apply only to classes that already include exempt facilities, such as flood risk activities, waste operations, and water discharge and groundwater activities. In England, the reforms may also extend to forthcoming waste control and transport activities, which could be introduced to the regulations as part of changes to the waste carrier, broker, and dealer registration system. This consultation follows a recommendation from Dan Corry’s independent review of Defra’s regulatory framework and will close on 3 June 2025.