FREE UPDATE 12 was covered in a previous free update. You have been transferred to this month’s free update.
This Act introduces Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs). Where implemented, EDPs will enable developers to discharge environmental obligations by contributing to the Nature Recovery Fund. Funds would then be used to address likely negative impacts on protected sites and species.
EDPs may also allow developers to avoid relevant ecological assessment and mitigation measures.
This Act amends consenting regimes for nationally significant infrastructure projects, electricity infrastructure and transport infrastructure. These changes aim to streamline the delivery of these projects, facilitating faster delivery.
The revisions made concern application information requirements, changes to consultation and greater flexibility.
This Regulation will apply obligations on the handling of plastic pellets across the supply chain, with the aim of achieving zero pellet losses.
Amongst other obligations, risk management plans will be required for installations handling plastic pellets. Additional obligations will apply to the carriage, packaging, shipment and maritime transport of plastic pellets.
The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) of ISO 14001:2026 was in the approval phase at the time this update was prepared. The ISO 14001:2026 standard is expected to be published in the first half of 2026.
The updated standard is expected to further embed the life cycle perspective, require a management of change process for the Environmental Management System and mandate commitments on biodiversity, natural resources and climate change in the policy.
This order will expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to include emissions from qualifying domestic maritime activities.
These requirements will apply to qualifying ships of 5,000 GT or greater and will exclude voyages with a port of call outside the UK.
These regulations will apply the first phase of the mandatory digital waste tracking system in Scotland.
The first phase will apply to all waste received at permitted facilities carrying out a waste activity (‘waste receivers’). Digital waste records will need to be recorded on the system for waste received.
Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 amended the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to apply restrictions on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams.
Restrictions will be phased in on the sale and use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams, with applications being restricted in most cases from 23 October 2026.
These regulations allow data centre projects to be authorised via the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime under the Planning Act 2008, when directed by the Secretary of State.
Where a direction is made, planning for prescribed projects will not be determined as a planning application to the local planning authority.
