Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Update following negotiations on an enhanced FTA with Switzerland [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 24 March 2026.

The tenth round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in Geneva between 9 and 13 March 2026.

The round followed the Secretary of State for Business and Trade’s meeting with his counterpart, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Strengthening the UK’s partnership with Switzerland reflects the UK government’s commitment to economic growth with our 10th largest trading partner, a relationship worth £49.0 billion in the four quarters ending Q3 2025. (ONS, UK total trade, seasonally adjusted).

In 2020, our trading relationship with Switzerland supported 130,000 UK services jobs across finance, consultancy and legal sectors services, transport, and other key sectors (OECD trade in employment database). However, the current UK-Swiss trade agreement, signed in 2019 and based largely on an EU-Swiss agreement from 1972, focuses mainly on goods. It does not include services, investment, digital, or data, even though services account for over 60% of UK trade with Switzerland. Switzerland is the UK’s 6th largest export market for services (ONS, UK total trade, seasonally adjusted).

The enhanced FTA aims to provide long-term certainty for UK services firms, locking in access to the Swiss market, ensuring the free flow of data, and securing business travel arrangements on a permanent basis.

Next Steps on FTA negotiations

The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, alongside protections for the National Health Service. Ministers will continue to update Parliament on the progress of negotiations.

March 26, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Gareth Davies Appointed as New Home Office Permanent Secretary [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 March 2026.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Gareth Davies CB as the new Permanent Secretary at the Home Office.

Gareth is currently Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business and Trade. He has previously held senior roles across government in business, transport and Downing Street. He started his career in the private sector, and has worked across Europe and south east Asia.

Gareth set up the Department for Business and Trade and has led it over the last three years. During this time, the department secured major trade deals including with India and the United States, landed major investments, hosted the International Investment Summit, launched the Industrial Strategy, and passed the Employment Rights Act.

Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, said:

Gareth Davies brings decades of experience in senior government and private sector roles, and a strong record of delivery supporting British trade and industry and transforming departments.

I look forward to working with Gareth as we drive forward the most significant reforms to policing and migration in generations, and deliver our mission to keep the British public safe and restore order to our borders.

I would also like to thank Dame Antonia Romeo for her exceptional leadership of the department, and Simon Ridley for his valuable counsel while serving as Acting Permanent Secretary in recent months.

Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

This is an important appointment for the Home Office and the Civil Service. Gareth is a brilliant permanent secretary who brings a wealth of experience of delivery and innovation from the public and private sectors. The Home Office is charged with delivery of some of the Government’s highest priorities, and Gareth is strongly suited to grip delivery and productivity in support of the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister.

I would also like to thank Simon Ridley for his strong leadership of the department in the interim period.

Gareth Davies CB said:

It’s an honour to be appointed Permanent Secretary of the Home Office – one of the great offices of state. There’s no more important agenda in government than keeping the country safe and secure.

I’m looking forward to working with the amazing team of civil servants to deliver the Home Secretary’s priorities and build a department that is even more innovative and productive.

I would like to thank the incredible team at the Department of Business and Trade. They should be very proud of the difference they make to the lives of families and communities across our country.

The appointment has been agreed by the First Civil Service Commissioner and the Prime Minister.

Gareth Davies will start as Home Office Permanent Secretary on the 6th April. The Cabinet Secretary will announce arrangements for his replacement as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business and Trade shortly.

March 26, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor sets out plan to crackdown on profiteering and drive Britain’s energy security [March 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 March 2026.

Households across Britain set to benefit as Chancellor acts on food prices, energy bills and profiteering – taking action on cost of living pressures while securing Britain’s long-term energy independence.
- New measures to protect working people through anti-profiteering framework to ensure the CMA and other regulators can clamp down on price gouging if it takes place.
- Powers to progress nuclear energy, with legislation to stop red-tape and vested interests holding back our energy security and indemnities to keep projects moving where they face legal challenge.
- Options for targeted reductions in import tariffs that could bring down food prices at the till for families across Britain to be assessed.
Today (Tuesday 24 March) the Chancellor set out measures to protect working people from any companies seeking to exploit this crisis, to take on vested interests holding back our energy security and to assess specific import tariff reductions to bring down food prices.

A new anti-profiteering framework will be introduced to protect working people to deal with businesses unfairly putting up prices to profiteer during this crisis. As part of this, the government will not hesitate to introduce time-limited, targeted powers if needed to ensure the CMA and other regulators can clamp down on price gouging if it takes place.

Decisive new legislation in the next Parliamentary session will help secure Britain’s energy future, ensuring all reforms that speed up nuclear delivery are in place by the end of 2027 which will streamline approvals, reduce unnecessary delay and bring new, reliable domestic power sooner, cutting exposure to volatile gas prices. New government-backed guarantees will also be assessed to keep priority infrastructure projects moving where planning consent is legally challenged. Targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs will be explored to help bring down food prices, focusing on the areas where consumers would benefit most.

Speaking in the House of Commons the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves said:

The longer and more severe the conflict, the greater the impact on our economy and our country.

That makes the work we have been doing since the election even more important,

To grow the economy and increase wages, through the plans I set out in my Mais lecture last week,

And to bear down on the cost of living and build resilience in the public finances, through iron-clad fiscal rules.

The Chancellor also said:

I am preparing for the future as this conflict goes on. I know that families and businesses are worried about the impact of rising prices.

I have said that we will be responsive to a changing world and responsible in the national interest

And the Chancellor went on to tell the House:

We did not start this war. But the ongoing conflict in the Middle East affects us, and we are responding to it.

The impacts remain uncertain, but the action we have taken since the election has ensured we are in a strong position to face this latest shock.

The further steps we have taken since the start of the conflict, and the additional action I have set out today, are all focussed on a single purpose – to protect working people and to protect the public finances.

The Chancellor set out how preparations for the future would focus on being responsive to the impact of this conflict and responsible with the public finances. This builds on the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut for 17 months since the election, the launch of the Cheaper Fuel Finder and a push to ensure 100% compliance, £53 million to protect those who most need it with the price of heating oil, and energy bills capped until the end of June saving the average household £117, with £150 for vulnerable households, and tiding families over until the winter.

The Chancellor was also clear on the importance of maintaining stability in the public finances, and lessons must be learnt from previous support packages which saw households in the top income decile receive an average of £1,350 of direct energy bill support (Energy Bills Support Scheme and Energy Price Guarantee), equivalent to 11% of the total spend.

As a result, large increases in borrowing drove up inflation and interest rates, leading to higher costs for people with loans or mortgages.

This week both the Chancellor and Business Secretary will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Regulators Council, including the CMA, to discuss their work to ensure markets continue to function properly and protect consumers. The Chancellor will also meet with supermarkets and banks this week to discuss how they can support consumers as well as Business Representative Organisations to understand what businesses of all sizes need to get them through this conflict.

This comes as the government and regulators step up action to protect consumers from unfair practices. As announced earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is stepping up monitoring on petrol and diesel prices and will publish an update as soon as possible. The CMA has also launched a market study on heating oil and is examining concerns from consumers about heating oil, and has made clear it will take enforcement action if it finds potential breaches of consumer law.
March 26, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government to replace ambulances following charity arson attack [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 24 March 2026.

Following an attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, the Department of Health and Social Care is taking action to support the charity and patients.

In response to the attacks on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, north London, on Monday 23 March, the Secretary of State confirmed the government has arranged for replacement ambulances to be provided on loan from the London Ambulance Service and will cover the cost of replacements for the vehicles destroyed.

The loan ambulances will arrive today [24 March] and the replacements will be provided as soon as possible.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

This shocking, cowardly, and despicable act of evil was not only an attack on London’s Jewish community, but on an ambulance service whose sole purpose is to save lives and care for others.

There is no doubt this attack was designed to strike fear into the heart of Jewish people in Golders Green and across the country. And, as a Member of Parliament who represents a significant Jewish community further east in London, I know what’s happened will be felt painfully and acutely by all Jewish people across our country.

The aim of these attackers is clear – they want Jewish people in this country to live smaller lives, to live less Jewish lives, to be less visible as Jewish people, and to fear going about Jewish life – whether that’s attending school or providing the services and support that makes the Jewish community one of the most resilient, strong, and proud communities in the country.

Hatzola’s volunteers represent the very best of public service, providing rapid, life-saving care to anyone in need, and it is appalling that such a service has been targeted in this way.

Of course, the best form of solidarity is practical solidarity, which is why today, our London Ambulance Service colleagues are providing support to the team in Golders Green to make sure that we don’t skip a beat when it comes to responding to emergency call-outs. We will also be providing four replacement ambulances, initially on loan until we can provide permanent replacements. The Jewish community should not bear the cost of this hatred.

This moment demands more than practical support. The Jewish community will not stand alone – the government and this entire country stand with them.

The answer cannot simply be higher walls, thicker doors, more CCTV. We also have to deal with this hatred at its source. We have to confront and beat the evil ideas that are permeating in our society. Anti-Semitism is an old hatred, but it is alive and kicking in our country, and all of us, particularly those who are not Jewish, have to wake up, stand up, and work with our Jewish friends and neighbours in confronting and defeating this despicable hatred.

March 25, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Export bar aims to protect archive of Scottish Enlightenment mastermind [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 20 March 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on the historically significant archive of James Stirling.
- The archive catalogues revolutionary practices at James Stirling’s Scots Mining Company that ushered in a new era of better conditions for workers
- The export bar will allow time for a UK archive or institution to acquire the collection for the nation
An export bar has been placed on an archive relating to James Stirling’s radical management of the Leadhills mines to allow time for a UK buyer to be found.

The archive charts the development of one of the most extraordinary operations of the Industrial Revolution. In 1736 James Stirling took over a struggling mining business in South Lanarkshire, where miners lived and worked in poverty. Stirling created a programme to radically improve the living conditions of workers as well as their productivity. His success became a blueprint for future socially-minded industrialists like George Cadbury.

The large collection includes 51 bundles of letters between the Scots Mining Company, James Stirling and later company managers, as well as a 1738 book of orders relating to the direction of the company. One of James Stirling’s copy books from 1736-37 is included, featuring his own mathematical notations. Further documents include a catalogue of the Leadhills Miners’ Library from 1800 and a folder of twentieth century research papers relating to Stirling’s role at Leadhills mine.

James Stirling was born into the Scottish landed aristocracy in 1692, during the reign of King William III and Queen Mary II. He was a talented mathematician, but his family’s support for the Jacobite rivals to the English monarchy blocked his academic ambitions. Instead he became a mathematics teacher in London, ultimately meeting and befriending some of the greatest enlightenment thinkers of the day. By 1726, Isaac Newton proposed him for membership of the Royal Society.

The radical changes James Stirling brought to the Leadhills mines site began with cuts to working hours from 72 to 40 per week and the introduction of team leaders, who would negotiate with managers over the pay for each task, thus giving workers more ownership and incentivisation for their labour. Families were supported to build their own cottages, with patches set aside for crops or livestock. A social insurance scheme for the sick and elderly was established, along with a school, church and library – which remains the oldest subscription library in the UK today.

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

In the eighteenth century it was radical to believe that better conditions would improve the productivity of workers. James Stirling’s reforms were a step towards the progression of workers’ rights and modern social security.

As key historical sources of Britain’s industrial and social history, it’s important that these documents remain available for research. It is excellent that James Stirling’s model village survives at Leadhills and I hope this archive can remain accessible to the public too.

Committee member, Caroline Shenton said:

James Stirling was an extraordinary 18th century employer, creating for his mineworkers at Leadhills one of the first, if not the first, model industrial settlement in Great Britain. The archive of letters he left behind describing his methods and progressive approach at Leadhills in the best traditions of the Scottish Enlightenment is hugely significant and endlessly fascinating. It would be a great tragedy if they were to leave the country, and so I very much hope that a suitable home can be found for them in a UK public institution.

This is the sixth temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by the Government. It follows attempts to protect a bust of John Gordon of Invergordon; Claude Lorrain’s Landscape with Rural Dance; Shock Dog by Anne Seymour Damer; a sculpture of two putti by Michael Rysbrack; and Howard Hodgkin’s Mrs Acton in Delhi.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the archive met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance to the study of local, regional, and pioneering social and industrial history of Scotland.

The decision on the export licence application for the archive will be deferred for a period ending on 19 June 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the archive at the recommended price of £24,928 (inclusive of VAT of £988 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.
March 25, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : New radar systems to unlock offshore wind [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 March 2026.

Upgrades to air defence radar systems will help unlock record breaking offshore wind capacity.
- New radar systems will help unlock 10 GW of offshore wind in UK waters, powering thousands of homes with clean, homegrown energy
- New technology secures coexistence of air defence and offshore wind – enabling government to deliver its clean power mission while protecting national security
- This comes as the government launches a consultation today to unlock up to 6 GW of onshore wind capacity near the Eskdalemuir seismic array in Scotland
Up to 10 GW of offshore wind capacity will be unlocked as a result of government upgrades to air defence radars.

Following close collaboration with industry, the government has bought specially designed air defence radars, which will mitigate against anomalies currently created by offshore wind farms.

These new radars, which will be installed from early 2029, will keep the British people safe by maintaining the UK’s air defence capability. Radars like these are a crucial part of the UK’s air defence, enabling the detection and identification of incursions and threats within UK airspace. They can also coexist with new offshore wind farms, without risk of interference – supporting both national and energy security.

This follows the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history, in which the government secured a record 8.4 GW of capacity – enough to power 12 million homes – at a price 40% lower than the cost of building and running a new gas power plant. By upgrading the radar systems, the government is ensuring that this record‑breaking offshore capacity can move from contract to construction.

Energy Minister, Michael Shanks said:

This new radar technology will unlock a key barrier holding back offshore wind farms, so that we can deliver the clean homegrown power needed to protect families from volatile fossil fuel markets, while bolstering our national security.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said:

We’re committed to investing in maintaining the UK’s national security. These new air defence radars will enable the Royal Air Force to monitor for potential attacks from adversaries and help our Armed Forces protect the UK.

We’re making defence an engine for growth across the country with the largest sustained defence spending increase since the Cold War, reaching 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

Benj Sykes, OWIC Board Sponsor for Aviation and Defence, and Vice President and UK Country Manager for Ørsted, said:

The Offshore Wind Industry Council welcomes the conclusion of procurement for a new air defence mitigation solution. This will ensure we are able to unlock over 10 gigawatts of wind energy by 2030, as well as billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs for the UK, without compromising our national defence. This is the culmination of a truly collaborative process over several years, with government and industry working in lockstep to deliver a solution that allows air defence and offshore wind to harmoniously co-exist.

This comes as the government today launches a consultation on unlocking up to 6 GW of onshore wind capacity near the Eskdalemuir seismic array in Scotland.

The proposals would block on onshore wind within 15km of the array, while easing planning rules in the surrounding area between 15km and 50km. This will enable Eskdalemuir seismic array to continue its operations, while supporting national and energy security.
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government to Improve Support for Affordable Debt Repayments [March 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 March 2026.

People who owe money to government will receive clearer, more tailored support to repay in a way they can afford, under new plans launched during Debt Awareness Week.
- Better use of data will help create realistic repayment plans, ensuring payments remain manageable for those who need support.
- While supporting people in difficulty, the government will maintain a firm approach to fraud and deliberate non‑payment, helping protect over £100 billion collected each year to fund vital public services.
Millions of people and businesses who owe money to government will benefit from more personalised and affordable repayment support, as the government sets out new plans to improve how debt owed to the public sector is managed.

The 2026–2030 Government Debt Management Strategy outlines how departments will better use data and earlier engagement to help people who fall behind on payments, ensuring repayment plans reflect individual circumstances and remain genuinely affordable. This means people who are struggling will have clearer routes to support and more consistent treatment across government.

Government is owed money for a wide range of reasons — from unpaid taxes and benefit overpayments, to fines, fees and loans. Recovering this money matters because every pound collected helps fund public services that people rely on every day, including the NHS, schools and policing.

The strategy commits government to three principles:

1.    Preventing avoidable debt, using data and early contact to intervene before debts occur or grow.

2.    Resolving existing debt fairly and consistently, with repayment plans that take account of people’s ability to pay.

3.    Improving skills and technology across departments so debt can be managed more efficiently and compassionately.

While strengthening support for people in genuine financial difficulty, the plans also ensure a tough approach to those who intentionally avoid payment or have obtained money through fraud or criminal activity.

Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury

We want to make sure that those who owe money to government are treated fairly and given the chance to pay it back in a way that’s manageable.

But we’re also being clear: if you’re deliberately avoiding paying what you owe, or you’ve obtained money through fraud, we will seek to recover it. That money funds our NHS, schools and the services people depend on every day.

This strategy is about doing both of those things properly — protecting taxpayers and supporting people who are struggling.

The strategy has been published during Debt Awareness Week which shines a light on how common debt is. The government recognises that debt is a reality for many households, particularly as the cost of living continues to affect family finances. The strategy commits to working alongside debt advice organisations and wider debt industry to make sure people know where to turn for help.

Chris Leslie, chief executive at the industry trade body Credit Services Association said:

This strategy sets the government on the right course, striking an appropriate balance between standing up for the taxpayers’ best interests, while also recognising that individuals who owe money sometimes require help and flexibility in managing their repayments. Early engagement is being advocated, which will make a real difference in how cases are managed and it is encouraging to see a clear commitment to embracing new technologies and providing specialist support. The Credit Services Association is pleased to see the government taking collections practices seriously and investing in the systems, processes and skills of those handling recoveries – all necessary to ultimately pay for our vital public services.

Vikki Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer at StepChange, said:

We welcome the 2026 – 2030 Government Debt Management Strategy and the government’s responsible creditor commitment – embedding fairness principles across government will help this goal, as well as a growing focus on preventing avoidable problem debt.

At StepChange, we see how problem debt is driven by cost-of-living pressures and financial shocks. So, it’s positive to see the Strategy acknowledge the financial harm and social cost problem debt creates, and the importance of early intervention.

The principles laid out in this strategy are important steps forward, aligning government debt collection with good practice in other regulated sectors, namely financial services, energy, and social housing.

More information
- The 2026–2030 Government Debt Management Strategy is published by HM Treasury and the Government Debt Management Function.
- Link to strategy here.
- Debt Awareness Week runs from 16 to 20 March 2026 and is led by StepChange Debt Charity.
March 23, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Local people take the lead in 40 more communities [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 20 March 2026.

Forty more communities selected for Pride in Place, with local people choosing how £20 million is invested to strengthen their neighbourhood.

From saving youth centres and repairing playgrounds, to bringing empty buildings back into community use and expanding affordable after‑school activities – the Pride in Place programme has been designed to deliver improvements that matter to residents. And in many areas, neighbours are coming together to protect vital local services and create new spaces that bring people together.

The 40 new neighbourhoods named today join the 244 already taking part, bringing the total to 284 communities across the UK where local people are deciding how investment is used in their area.

As funding now flows to the first communities, work is getting under way across the country to turn plans into action and deliver change people can see in their streets, town centres and shared spaces. Further details will be set out shortly.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed said:

Across the country, people step outside their front door and feel like there is nothing for them: no sense of belonging, no investment in their area, no feeling that anyone is listening.

Pride in Place backs these people and puts the tools and the money directly in their hands to change that, because strong communities aren’t built for people, they’re built by them.

These new neighbourhoods are joining a movement that is bringing people closer together, and this government is backing them to do it.

Alongside this investment, the government continues to act on the issues that affect people’s quality of life and is taking robust action to protect families amid global uncertainty.

This includes £117 off energy bills and support for vulnerable households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes, on top of freezing rail fares and prescription charges, and rolling out free breakfast clubs.

Notes to editors

The Pride in Place programme, including the Impact Fund, now supports 379 areas across the UK.
A full breakdown of areas in receipt of Pride in Place funding can be found here: Pride in Place – GOV.UK
The 40 areas have been chosen using an updated selection methodology. We will publish our full methodology shortly. The list of new areas set to benefit, is set out below

Local authority	Number of neighbourhoods	Neighbourhood names
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole	3	West Howe, Boscombe West, Hamworthy West
Medway	3	Luton, Twydall, Rede Common
Barking and Dagenham	2	Mayesbrook Park & Rippleside, Central Park & Frizlands Lane
Brent	2	St Raphaels, Harlesden
Coventry	2	Tile Hill, Hillfields
Enfield	2	Lower Edmonton South, Enfield Wash
Ipswich	2	Stoke Park, Whitehouse
Luton	2	Central Luton, Marsh Farm
Newcastle upon Tyne	2	Fawdon South, Throckley & Newburn
Slough	2	Britwell, Langley Foxborough
Ashfield	1	Hucknall Westville
Bexley	1	Slade Green & Crayford Marshes
Birmingham	1	Handsworth West
Cannock Chase	1	Cannock North
Croydon	1	University Hospital & Queen’s Road
Derby	1	New Normanton
Exeter	1	Heavitree East & Whipton South
Gloucester	1	Matson & Robinswood
Greenwich	1	Thamesmead Birchmere Park
Manchester	1	Moss Side West
Newham	1	Little Ilford East
Rushmoor	1	Mayfield
Sandwell	1	Tividale
Stevenage	1	St Nicholas
Stoke-on-Trent	1	Bradeley & Chell Heath
Thurrock	1	Tilbury
Walsall	1	Brownhills
Wolverhampton	1	Waterloo Road

March 23, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : King Charles III England Coast Path inaugurated with royal visit [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2026.

His Majesty King Charles III launched the England Coast Path at an event at Seven Sisters today.
- Renamed as the King Charles III England Coast Path in his honour in 2023 the 2,700 mile-long trail is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world giving unprecedented access to coastline,
- With 1,000 miles of new access and improved infrastructure throughout the path will deliver a boost to the visitor economy and coastal communities.
The King Charles III England Coast Path was officially launched today (Thursday 19th March) by His Majesty the King at an event held at Seven Sisters in Sussex.

His Majesty walked a 2-kilometre stretch of the coast path, taking in the spectacular views of the Seven Sisters and enjoying the sight of the majestic chalky cliffs and the famous coastguard cottages that cling to the clifftop, immortalised in popular imagination through books and Hollywood movies alike.

The Seven Sisters route forms part of the unique King Charles III England Coast Path, which is now the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, to be enjoyed both by visitors and local communities.

Work on the King Charles III England Coast Path began in 2010 with the first section opened at Weymouth so that people could watch the 2012 Olympic sailing events from the nearby cliffs and beaches.

Since then, works have taken place across the country from Cumbria and Cornwall to Northumberland and Norfolk with new stretches giving people access to the big skies and beaches of East Anglia, the rolling dunes of Formby beach, the ancient geology of the Jurassic Coast and now the iconic white cliffs of Seven Sisters that are being celebrated today.

Once completed, 1,000 miles of new path will be created and 1,700 miles improved, allowing people to walk the beautiful headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes that make up the English coast. New signage and infrastructure such as bridges and boardwalks are being installed, helping to improve the accessibility of many coastal areas.

All new and existing paths are now of National Trail standard and will help to attract more income from tourism for coastal communities as people come to visit the path.

His Majesty was accompanied on the walk by the Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper and the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

“The King Charles III England Coast Path is a testament to how access, conservation, and community can come together to make people’s lives better and is a fitting tribute to His Majesty and his lifelong passion for nature.

“With this national asset, people around the country alongside international visitors will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the English Coast and the feeling of wellbeing, both mental and physical, that it brings. This will reconnect people with the land, support nature recovery, and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.”

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

“We have one of the most stunning coastlines in the world and the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people a new way to explore it.

“This is the longest managed coast path in the world, creating amazing opportunities for people to visit spots of natural beauty in our coastal towns and villages.”

Visitors to England’s coastal paths already generate £350 million in spending within local coastal economies each year and support nearly 6,000 jobs. The path opens up new opportunities for growth along its route, with the potential to become part of the fabric of coastal economies by boosting tourism and revitalise coastal towns.

One of the key features of the King Charles III England Coast Path is its ability to ‘rollback’ with coastal erosion. This means that the path can be easily moved inland to adapt to the changing shape of the coast and ensure access rights remain in place for the future.

This launch is the culmination of more than sixteen years of work from Natural England and over 50 coastal local authorities, landowners and others across the country, including Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and access organisations such as the Ramblers Association, Disabled Ramblers and British Mountaineering Council.

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been full submitted to government for approval, while work continues to open remaining stretches around the country. Around 2,100 miles of the path are currently open with full access rights in place. By summer, we expect around 90% of infrastructure works to have been completed.

The event kicks off a year of celebration of our coast with a range of visitor experiences being made available across the year and comes on the same day as the declaration of the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, which was also opened by His Majesty the King today.

Named in honour of His Majesty, a lifelong champion of the natural world, both the King Charles III England Coast Path and the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves stand as enduring commitments to protecting nature and public access.

Two commemorative plaques were unveiled by His Majesty to be a lasting legacy of the day.

The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023 to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

NOTES TO EDITORS
- His Majesty’s visit to Seven Sisters today was covered by the royal rota.
- The duty to create an England Coast Path was first placed on Natural England by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
- The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023, to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Suffragan Bishop of Stepney Appointed [March 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 March 2026.

The King has approved the nomination of The Venerable Roderick (Rod) Ernest Alexander Green, BA, MA, MTh, Archdeacon of Llandaff, in the Church in Wales, to the Suffragan See of Stepney, in the Diocese of London, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell, MA, DPhil, following her translation to the See of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Rod was educated at the University of Reading and the London School of Theology, and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at Christ Church, Spitalfields, in the Stepney Area of the Diocese of London and was ordained priest in 2008.

In 2011 he took up the role of Associate Rector at St Paul’s, Shadwell, also in the Stepney Area of the Diocese of London. In 2014 he was appointed Vicar at St. Peter’s, West Harrow, in the Willesden Area of the Diocese of London.

He has served in his current role as Archdeacon of Llandaff, in the Diocese of Llandaff, in the Church in Wales, since 2021.

March 23, 2026

Category: Press Releases

Next Steps on FTA negotiations

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

Committee member, Caroline Shenton said:

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

NOTES TO EDITORS