Consultation hub

This site hosts consultations, calls for evidence and other surveys from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as our agencies and bodies.

Public participation is very important to the development of our policies so please have your say.

Open consultations from Defra

  • Pathway Action Plans for Invasive Non-native Species

    We are seeking your views on the draft Great Britain invasive non-native species (INNS) Pathway Action Plans (PAPs). An ‘invasive non-native species’ (INNS) is any non-native animal or plant that can spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health, or the way we live....

    Closes 18 August 2025

  • Proposed reforms to the WaterSure support scheme

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wants to know what you think about proposed reforms to the ‘WaterSure’ scheme. These proposals will offer stronger protection to low-income households with high essential water use. WaterSure caps bills for...

    Closes 1 September 2025

  • Consultation on Offshore Wind Environmental Compensatory Measures Reforms

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on its proposed Offshore Wind Environmental Compensatory Measures Reforms. The reforms are intended provide more clarity on requirements for environmental compensation when unavoidable damage to a Marine Protected Area...

    Closes 2 September 2025

All closed activities from Defra, including our agencies & bodies

  • Reforming our approach to floods funding

    6.3 million homes and businesses in England are at risk from flooding. With climate change, the total number of properties at risk from flooding could increase to 8 million by the middle of the century – or around one in four properties. Around 3,500 properties are at risk of being lost to coastal...

    Closed 29 July 2025

  • Biodiversity net gain for nationally significant infrastructure projects

    We are seeking views on the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). The government is committed to achieving sustained economic growth to improve the prosperity of our country. The development of high-quality...

    Closed 24 July 2025

  • Improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain for minor, medium and brownfield development

    We want to know what you think about the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development. BNG is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to...

    Closed 24 July 2025

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Find out more about 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.

Update 28 March 2025 

The new Statutory Instrument has come into force: The Wildlife Licence Charges (England) Order 2025. New fees will be charged from 1st April 2025. 

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.

We asked

Defra consulted on the scope of animal health and welfare offences that could be covered by penalty notices and elements on how the penalty regime might work in practice

You said

More than 85% of respondents to the consultation supported the view that penalty notices could be a proportionate tool to ensure compliance with animal health and welfare regulations and supported the use of penalty notices to enforce regulations across different areas of animal health and welfare legislation.

We did

As a result, we will introduce legislation to make penalty notices available as an enforcement option for named enforcers to use where appropriate for specified offences across animal health and welfare legislation.

We asked

Are new management measures required in Lyme Bay to protect the sole fishery?  

You said

Yes, additional management is required.

We did

In brief, MMO will: 

  • Create a new vessel licence condition requiring enhanced visibility and identification of passive gear 

  • Publish a form for reporting lost and found gear that can be used without the need for names in order to improve data on the frequency of these events   

  • Set a reduced sole catch limit of 200kg for non-sector vessels fishing with scallop dredges in ICES area 7e   

  • Hold discussions with Producer Organisations about ways members can reduce sole bycatch when fishing with dredges  

  • Support additional research to understand the potential need, benefits and risks of changes to minimum landing sizes or gear configurations   

  • Facilitate a meeting for representative industry members to discuss the potential for separating areas of Lyme Bay for use by different fishing methods at different times of the year. It will be hosted by MMO in early 2024. 

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