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ARTICLE · 13 AUGUST 2021

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Nature Conservation Law: An Attack From The Environment Secretary?

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This post will be of interest to anyone who is seeking to carry out, or object to, development on land or within territorial seas in England.

United KingdomEnvironment
Penny Simpson
Penny Simpson

This post will be of interest to anyone who is seeking to carry out, or object to, development on land or within territorial seas in England.

The Environment Secretary, George Eustice, announced in a speech on Tuesday 18 May that the Government is seeking to add into the Environment Bill (which applies to England only) powers to change the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) (Habitat Regulations) in order to "refocus" the Habitat Regulations, to "ensure our legislation adequately supports our ambitions for nature." The Habitats Regulations are England's linchpin regulations for the protection of the rarest protected species and habitats.

Despite Eustice stating that the government will take a "cautious approach to reform," this announcement has caused significant unease amongst environmental groups as the drafted amendments may well in fact fail to secure his purported commitment to protect habitats, nature and our

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