The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a letter of advice to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, concerning the review and update of the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). This follows Reed’s announcement of a rapid review of the EIP and his subsequent request for advice from the OEP.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report on the drivers and pressures affecting nature in Northern Ireland (NI). The report highlights that current pressures are unsustainable, calling for urgent action to protect and improve the environment for existing and future generations. The report systematically assesses these drivers and pressures, identifying challenges associated with particular economic sectors. It finds that the two principal pressures causing biodiversity loss are land use change and pollution, closely linked to agricultural intensification.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report, assessing the government's implementation of the duty to have regard to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS), as mandated by section 19 of the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021). The report acknowledges positive signs of early implementation and effective preparation and process development. However, it highlights that some key elements for embedding the duty in government policymaking are absent, such as its inclusion in HM Treasury's Green Book. The report outlines eight key recommendations for the government to strengthen the EPPS duty's role in policymaking. These include updating EPPS duty and cross government guidance, publishing EPPS assessments, and evaluating the overall impact of the duty, among other aspects.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a comprehensive report examining how effectively the regulations governing Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being implemented in England. The review assesses the application of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in relation to SSSIs and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, SI 2017/1012, for SACs and SPAs. The report concludes that the main barriers to effectiveness stem from shortcomings in implementation rather than deficiencies in the legislation itself. It sets out 15 recommendations to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Natural England and other public authorities, grouped under six themes: governance, resources, designation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, land management incentives and advice and regulatory tools and enforcement. The report also highlights that achieving positive environmental outcomes depends on the actions of private landowners and occupiers.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report, reviewing England’s Bathing Water Regulations. The report concludes that updates are required to better protect the public, as the current regulations are outdated and do not account for modern recreational water use patterns. It comprises 12 recommendations for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency, including expanding the scope of water users to include activities such as surfing and paddle-boarding, reviewing site identification criteria for bathing waters, expanding the fixed bathing season, and improving water quality sampling methodologies and pollution risk forecasting systems, among other recommendations. These findings are expected to inform Defra's ongoing consultation on the regulations.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published reports concluding its investigation into the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) by Defra, the Environment Agency and Ofwat. The investigation found failures to comply with environmental law by all three authorities, leading to decision notices requiring corrective actions. The reports detail these findings, enforcement notices and responses showing significant progress, and make further recommendations to strengthen regulation and prevent recurrence of failures.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Land Use Framework consultation. The Chair of the OEP, Dame Glenys Stacey, welcomed the move toward a more coherent approach to land use policy and spatial prioritisation, noting that the consultation effectively balances environmental, climate, and food production objectives. The OEP emphasised that maximising land benefits will require balancing multifunctionality and planning for long-term opportunities and risks—including those posed by climate change. It called on Defra to now focus on finalising and operationalising the Land Use Framework to establish a more coherent land use policy.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s July 2025 offshore wind compensation consultation, highlighting both positive elements and potential environmental risks. The OEP cautioned that removing network coherence requirements and allowing compensation measures for different features in different protected sites could lead to a fragmented reshaping of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. It also called for clearer guidance on compensation measures and sought clarification that industry funding would not be used to fulfil government obligations for MPA management. The OEP’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Helen Venn, welcomed certain aspects of the proposed approach—including the continued integration of monitoring, the establishment of a public compensation register, adaptive management and the mitigation hierarchy. The OEP further called for greater transparency on how the Environmental Principles Policy Statement is informing the development of offshore wind compensation.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), welcoming steps to improve coherence with environmental policy while recommending further strengthening in key areas. In its response, the OEP states that the revised framework must align clearly with national environmental targets, objectives and strategies if it is to deliver the government’s ambition of achieving both housing growth and nature recovery.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its response to Northern Ireland’s draft Nature Recovery Strategy, welcoming it as a ‘step forward’ with a high level of ambition to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. It notes the strategy’s recognition of the scale of nature’s decline and its support for measures to restore ecosystems and mainstream nature recovery across government. However, the OEP identifies areas for improvement, including the need to scale up implementation and move from further planning to tangible action. It also calls for greater clarity on outcomes and timelines, alongside a more comprehensive approach to addressing environmental pressures. The response further highlights the need for improved coherence with existing plans and policies.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its written submission for the Supreme Court case of CG Fry & Son Ltd v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Somerset Council [2024] EWCA Civ 730, which was scheduled for hearing on 17-18 February 2025. The OEP’s intervention seeks to clarify the interpretation of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, 2017/1012 (Habitats Regulations) to ensure they continue to fulfil their purpose of environmental protection. This case concerns a Planning Inspector's decisions regarding the discharge of conditions for a large development of residential, commercial, and community uses in Wellington, Somerset, with previous courts confirming the need for an assessment under the Habits Regulations.