Open Consultations
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Open access restriction at Hulne Park (case number 2005070107)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closes 8 November 2024
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Consultation on a WEEE Compliance Fee Methodology 2024
The UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 establish a system in which producers of equipment are required to finance the cost of collection, treatment, recovery and recycling of WEEE arising from private households. The WEEE Regulations establish a system of annual...
Closes 11 November 2024
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Consultation on the proposed amendments to Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). Ymgynghoriad ar ddiwygiadau arfaethedig i Atodiad A i’r Cyd-ddatganiad ar Bysgodfeydd
We are seeking your views on proposed amendments to Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). The JFS was published in November 2022 by the four UK fisheries policy authorities (the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment...
Closes 21 November 2024
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Open access restriction at Hollins Hill (case number 2014097377)
The Peak District National Park Authority is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or...
Closes 29 November 2024
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The UK Pollutant Release and Transfer Register: National Implementation Report 2025
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Implementation of the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) under the Kiev Protocol – Call for views October 2024 The UK has a publicly available inventory of pollution from industrial sites and other...
Closes 5 December 2024
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Open access restriction at Upham Meadow (case number 2005110053)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closes 9 December 2024
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Open access restriction at Lower Lugg Meadow (case number 2006030159)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closes 9 December 2024
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Open access restriction at Hampton Meadow (case number 2020029075)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closes 9 December 2024
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Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB) Variation Project Second Consultation
Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB) Boundary Variation Project – 2 nd Consultation This webpage contains information and the online survey for those wishing to respond to the second statutory and public consultation for the Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB*) Boundary...
Closes 10 December 2024
Closed Consultations
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Open access restriction at Ros Hill (case number 2004120055)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closed 30 October 2024
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Open access restriction at Twin Oaks (case number 2009040042)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closed 16 October 2024
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Survey for the UK Best Available Techniques (UK BAT) in the Surface Treatment of Metals and Plastics Sector
This survey seeks your feedback on the environmental impacts of the Surface Treatment of Metals and Plastics industry in the United Kingdom as part of the 'Best Available Techniques” (BAT) regime for regulated industry. The aim of the BAT process is to bring the UK Surface Treatment of Metals...
Closed 7 October 2024
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Consultation on updating the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS)
This public consultation on the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) opened on 12th August and will close on 7th October 2024. The government is consulting on changes to the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) to improve baseline customer service standards and protection in the water and sewerage...
Closed 7 October 2024
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Open access restriction at Seal Sands Industrial Complex (case number 2014087356)
Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These...
Closed 18 September 2024
We Asked, You Said, We Did
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
We asked
Between 6 Feb and 18 March 2024, Natural England consulted on a proposal to change the fees levied under the Wildlife Licence Charges (England) order 2018.
We asked your views on proposed updates to survey and mitigation licence charges. We also asked for your views on priorities for improving the licensing service.
The changes are required because of HM Treasury principles that mean Natural England must ensure full cost recovery. We also need to introduce charges for new licensing routes, and fund improvements to the licensing service.
You said
Most consultees did not support the proposed charges for bat mitigation licence fees.
However, most of you did support the proposed charges for survey licences fees, and mitigation licence fees for species other than bat.
On improving the licensing service, you said that improving species protection was the most important issue. Second and third most important were improving certainty around when a licence will be issued, and speed of licence issue.
We did
In response, we have reduced the proposed fees for some bat mitigation licences. For other licences, we propose to keep the fees as listed in the consultation.
We have published a consultation response. This has an analysis of the results, addresses your comments, and outlines our next steps. Our first action will be to seek ministerial approval for the proposed charges. If approved by a minister, we will work with Defra to get parliamentary approval for a new Statutory Instrument.
We asked
To start the process of replacing the East Marine Plans, as agreed by the Secretary of State in April 2023, and approval to consult on the East Marine Plan Draft Statemnet of Public Particiaption. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) held a formal consultation between 15 January 2024 and 12 February 2024.
Four engagement events were held during the consultation period, which were attended by a wide range of stakeholders from various sectors.
You said
The consensus from the consultation was that the Statement of Public Particiaption generally meets the requirements of stakeholders. No changes were required to the Draft East Marine Plan Statement of Public Participation directly however, minor changes have been made to the corresponding gov.uk webpages to reflect the representations made by stakeholders.
We did
Following the consultation on the East Marine Plan Draft Statement of Public Participation, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has agreed to publish the East Marine Plan Statement of Public Participation.
You can review the East marine Plan Statement of Public Participation and learn more about the process of replacing the East Marine Plan on the marine planning webpages.
We asked
Defra consulted on establishing permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna (BFT) in UK waters.
You said
Of the 167 responses, the vast majority of respondents (139, 83%), across all interested groups, broadly supported the proposed design for the new UK permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of BFT.
Of those respondents not in favour, the vast majority supported the concept of recreational BFT fisheries but had specific concerns about the proposed design.
We did
On the basis of the strong support to the consultation for new UK permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of BFT, Defra will bring forward the necessary legislation.
Each UK fisheries administration (FA) will determine if, and when, to introduce a BFT catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in its waters. We intend to open a BFT CRRF in English waters in 2024.
Our full Government response is available on GOV.UK.