Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 October 2025.

A record £10.5 billion investment in flood defences will defend nearly 900,000 properties in England, with new rules to get defences built more quickly.

Deprived communities across the country will benefit from new flood defences, under sweeping reforms unveiled by the government today (Tuesday 14 October), safeguarding England’s renewal by better protecting homes and businesses from flooding. 

The last time rules on allocating flood defence funding were updated was in 2011. Since then, the system has failed to support more innovative solutions, like natural flood management, and was based on outdated evidence.  

On top of that, the rules required a complex application process which put councils with limited resources at a disadvantage, meaning poorer communities struggled to build the defences they need.   

In a major shift, the government has overhauled that complex approach and committed a record £10.5 billion to flood defences to protect nearly 900,000 properties.

The new rules – which will be used for the next flood programme starting in April 2026 – ensure that all prioritised flood projects valued at £3 million or less are eligible for full funding by the government. Prioritised projects valued higher than this will be eligible for the first £3 million of support upfront, and 90% of the costs thereafter.  

For example, if an eligible scheme valued at £10 million was approved and prioritised for investment, the scheme owners would only need to provide £700,000 to get spades in the ground, as the government would contribute £9.3 million to the project’s costs.   

The move will bring confidence and security to local businesses and investors, helping to kickstart economic growth as part of the Plan for Change and safeguard the government’s plans to deliver national renewal.  

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:   

For too long, deprived towns and cities struggled to secure the vital money needed for flood defences due to a complicated and outdated process.   

Our reforms will rip this up and help communities get back on their feet after floods – by unlocking economic growth, building new homes and creating new jobs.  

This government will be investing a record £10.5 billion into new flood defences and repairing existing assets to protect more people from the devastation of flooding.

At least 20% of future investment will also be set aside to help protect the most deprived communities in England over the next ten years. 

Together, these reforms will break the cycle of towns struggling to recover from flooding, with increased protection from new flood defences helping to grow the local economy, create jobs and protect high streets against billions of pounds in damages.   

This long-term investment in the nation’s infrastructure will bring with it economic growth and secure national renewal for decades to come, as well as boosting our resilience to a warming climate.   

In a move to ensure government investment goes even further, new projects will be prioritised based on value for money, with the contributions from partners – such as businesses, wildlife groups or farm clusters – being better recognised and boosting the chances of projects being approved.  

These changes will ensure government funding unlocks external investment, making every pound of taxpayer money go further. 

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said:  

Our changing climate means it has never been more important to ensure communities are better protected from the devastating impacts of flooding.   

We welcome the government’s new approach to flood and coastal erosion investment, enabling a wider range of projects such as natural flood management and property flood resilience to be supported. Together with our partners, we will work to deliver these ambitions on the ground.

The biggest overhaul in 15 years of the government’s approach to flooding will see a number of previously neglected approaches prioritised – reflecting better understanding of flood risk across the country.  

For the first time, refurbishment of existing flood defences will be treated on an equal footing with new projects. This recognises the growing pressure on ageing defences and ensures vital repairs get the funding they need.   

Natural flood management projects supported by the government are cost effective, while delivering environmental benefits in addition to flood protection. The largest ever investment in natural flood management, delivered over the next decade, will form a key part of the new, overhauled approach to managing flood risk. 

In its first year in power, the government has delivered 151 flood schemes, better protecting more than 24,000 homes and businesses from flooding across England. This includes the Pevensey Bay Sea Defences in East Sussex, which has better protected 3,225 properties.   

This action forms part of the government’s record investment of at least £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – to construct new flood defences and repair existing defences.  

Recognising flood defences were inherited in their worst condition on record, £108 million was reprioritised for urgent maintenance works, which halt the decline of major assets and make communities confident that they are protected.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 October 2025.

New funding for local projects across 12 UK Overseas Territories and 36 developing countries over the next five years.

• The package will support local action to restore nature, reduce poverty and address climate change around the world
• This will help protect 1.5 million hectares of forest in Bolivia, recover St Helena’s cloud forest and support critically endangered eagles in the Philippines

Vital ecosystems and threatened species such as tigers, Philippine eagles, reef sharks, Amazon parrots and sea turtles across the globe are set to benefit from new government funding announced today (Thursday 9th October).

80 local projects spread across 36 developing countries and 12 UK Overseas Territories, will be funded with the aim of restoring ecosystems, safeguarding nature, securing food and water supplies and improving lives.

Supporting nature restoration across the world is a crucial part of protecting the long-term health of our economy. More than half of the global economy is estimated to be dependent in some way on the ecosystem services that nature provides.

Some of the projects receiving funding include: 

• Bolivian forests – UK investment will help protect up 1.5 million hectares of vital forest, prevent the loss of 200,000 hectares, generate new income for indigenous communities, and secure water supplies.
• Cloud forest of St Helena – A unique cloud forest which locals depend upon for capturing fresh water will be protected through a project led by the RSPB which will improve water security, and address the key threats of plant pathogens and invasive species.
• Eagles in the Philippines – A project led by Botanic Gardens Conservation International will help restore the highly biodiverse tropical rainforest of the Pantaron Mountain Range, while improving the livelihoods of local indigenous communities and promoting the protection of the endemic and critically endangered Philippine eagle.
• Lemurs in Madagascar – A project based in Madagascar will promote regenerative agricultural practices to support reforestation efforts in high-altitude rainforests, improving food security and nutrition for farmers and their families while expanding habitat for eleven endangered lemur species and other unique Malagasy wildlife.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:  

If we want to prosper into the future, then supporting international action to protect nature is essential.

When ecosystems break down, food, water, health and economies unravel – fuelling instability, insecurity, and conflict across the globe. By supporting nature recovery across the world today, we are protecting our security and economic prosperity for the future.

This government is taking action, both in the UK and more widely, to help nature recover and protect some of the world’s most iconic species.

Shayla Ellick, the RSPB’s St Helena project manager said:

Thanks to vital support through the Darwin Plus programme, we’re continuing essential research and conservation work to restore St Helena’s cloud forest, home to over 250 species of plants and invertebrates found nowhere else on Earth and the main water source for the people of St Helena.

We were delighted to receive this latest grant, which builds on our partnership with the St Helena Government, the St Helena National Trust, and Connect Saint Helena, and on previous work funded by the FCDO and through many previous Darwin Plus projects. Together, we’re working to restore this unique ecosystem.

The money for these projects comes from two funds, the Darwin Initiative, targeting action in low- and middle-income countries, and Darwin Plus, which funds projects supporting biodiversity and conservation projects across the UK Overseas Territories. Since 1993, the Darwin Initiative has awarded over £230m to more than 1,275 projects across 159 countries.

We also recently announced that a new batch of successful projects will receive funding through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund from October 2025. By tackling illegal wildlife trade – which is often linked to wider criminal networks – we are not only protecting endangered species, but also supporting safer communities, stronger economies and legitimate businesses around the world. 

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, another of the UK government’s flagship Biodiversity Challenge Funds, supports innovative and scalable projects that reduce pressure on wildlife from illegal trade and reduce poverty in developing countries.   

This announcement was made at an event at the Natural History Museum where UK government is working to galvanise international action ahead of COP30. 

Britain is taking a leading role on the world stage in tackling the twin threats of climate change and nature loss.  We are working with our partners across the world to build global ambition on nature – accelerating delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework, meeting our 30×30 commitment and showing leadership at home by reversing biodiversity loss.

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

• The Darwin Initiative is one of the UK government’s flagship Biodiversity Challenge Funds, and awards grants that enable low and middle-income countries to conserve their unique biodiversity, reduce poverty and address climate change.
• Darwin Plus competitively awards grants to projects that aim to deliver long-term strategic outcomes for the unique biodiversity within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), supporting the communities who live and work in biodiverse areas to build resilience to climate change.   
• The total funding included in this package is more than £35 million across over 80 projects.
• BirdLife International Forest Impact Accelerator Plus – In partnership with BirdLife International, we’re supporting efforts across eight countries (Bolivia, Zambia, Philippines, Nepal, Uganda, Sao Tome and Principe, Kenya, and Indonesia) to engage the private sector in conserving one million hectares of forest, while tackling poverty in the areas around these forests.   
• Recovering St Helena’s cloud forest for wildlife & water security – The unique cloud forest of St Helena, which locals depend upon for capturing fresh water will be protected through a project led by the RSPB which will improve water security, and provide a model for other key habitats by addressing the key threats of plant pathogens and invasive species, and creating a framework for restoration.
• Nature’s Neighbours: Sustainable Coexistence between Indigenous People and Philippine Eagles – A project led by Botanical Gardens Conservation International will help restore the highly biodiverse tropical rainforest of the Pantaron Mountain Range, while improving the livelihoods of local indigenous communities and promoting the protection of the endemic and critically endangered Philippine eagle.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 October 2025.

21,000 new homes in North Sussex unlocked after four-year bottleneck.

Families in North Sussex are set to benefit from thousands of new homes following a landmark agreement between government, regulators and industry – resolving a four-year pause on development while safeguarding local wetlands and wildlife.

This marks a major step forward in delivering homes for local families, supporting community growth and protecting the natural heritage of the Arun Valley.

Around 4,000 homes that were previously stalled will now proceed while enabling a further 17,000 to be built.

This breakthrough builds on the government pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, a core milestone of the Plan for Change.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:
This breakthrough ends a broken status quo and shows how we can build the homes the community needs while protecting nature.

Under the government’s Plan for Change, we are taking a win-win approach that unlocks growth while protecting and restoring the natural world we all depend on.

We are getting Britain building again while securing a brighter future for our precious wetlands, wildlife and local rivers.

Discussions were led through Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce, a forum for government departments, water companies, regulators and developers to drive progress and resolve issues like this one.

Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said:
This type of sustainable development clearly shows how we can build the new homes this country needs while restoring and protecting nature.

A thriving natural environment is at the heart of a strong economy and is vital to all of our health and wellbeing. We know that people want to live near nature and cases like this where sound nature regulations prompted innovative solutions mean we can continue to make that possible.

Jennie Donovan, Environment Agency Director Nature and Place, said:
The Environment Agency are committed to protecting the environment whilst supporting growth and sustainable development, ensuring new homes are built with adequate flood risk protection, supply of drinking water and sewerage services.

This agreement shows how working together to manage our water needs can unlock development and enable new homes for local communities, whilst helping nature recover at the same time.

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:
The breakthrough achieved in Sussex North demonstrates how through smart policy interventions we can unlock precisely the kind of win-win for development and nature that this government is committed to achieving.

Building work had been halted since 2021 due to concerns over the amount of water being taken from rivers and wetlands in the Arun Valley, which risked impacting protected wildlife and local water resources.

Work will begin from 1 November, with local authorities and developers working together to deliver homes that meet high environmental standards.

Under the agreement by Defra, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Southern Water, the water company will change its water abstraction permits to limit the amount of water taken from local rivers and wetlands, as well as provide funding to restore habitats. This will be paid for by the company and not by consumers.

The agreement ensures protection for rare species like the Lesser Whirlpool Ramshorn Snail, a unique part of the Arun Valley’s ecosystem.

New homes will also be built to higher water efficiency standards in line with the building regulation guidance for water scarce areas, reducing daily water use and easing pressure on local watercourses.

This follows our announcement on changes to Building Regulations that will tackle water shortage bottlenecks and unblock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity.

Notes to editors:
In 2021, Natural England issued a water neutrality position statement in relation to the Arun Valley. As a result, new housing developments in parts of Horsham, Crawley and Chichester were paused.

Today’s agreement enables development to continue, building work will resume on 1 November.

This government recognises the significant contribution by local authorities in managing the implications of water scarcity and the future challenges involved in getting appropriate development back underway, and we will continue to work with them to this end.

The projected number of homes is based on estimates provided by local authorities.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 October 2025.

Two new appointees will support efforts to prepare and adapt the UK for climate change.

Defra and the Devolved Governments have appointed Dr Michael Keil and Mr Ian Dickie to the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee.

The Adaptation Committee is comprised of experts in the fields of climate change impacts, science, environmental economics, conservation, public health and business. It provides independent, expert advice on preparing for and adapting to climate change to UK and devolved governments and parliaments. 

Dr Michael Keil and Mr Ian Dickie’s appointments will run from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. The appointments have been made in line with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Governance Code for Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

Dr Michael Keil said:

It’s an enormous privilege to be given this opportunity to play a key role in shaping the UK’s response to climate change. You don’t have to look far to see the impact it’s already having on our lives, not least in the water sector where we are facing a race against time to secure enough water to meet our future needs.

The UK has a wealth of unrivalled expertise which can find effective solutions but we need to accelerate our efforts. This means not only developing new infrastructure but, crucially, inspiring much-needed changes in people’s behaviour and habits where there remains so much untapped potential. It’s also critical we work with, rather than against, the natural environment to bolster our resilience.

Ultimately, every individual, across current and future generations, has a stake in the decisions we take now to ensure we have a well-adapted UK that not only keeps people safe but allows communities and nature to flourish.

Mr Ian Dickie said:

It is a pleasure and honour to be joining the Adaptation Committee to help apply environmental economics to the increasing urgent and current challenge of adapting to climate change.

I will contribute to the Committee’s work to consider the full range of adaptation options available to society. It is important to promote both the costs and benefits of acting on adaptation and identify the potential synergies and trade-offs with other societal challenges. These include achieving net zero, particularly in agricultural and other sectors heavily dependent on natural capital, as well as nature recovery and public health.

I aim to ensure that adaptation options are relevant across the diversity of the UK, from remote rural to inner city communities, and from our seas to our street trees. I will endeavour to build on the advice of my colleague at EFTEC, Ece Ozdemiroglu, who was a member of the committee for six years.

Baroness Brown, Chair of the Adaptation Committee, said:

I am delighted to welcome two new members to the committee and congratulate them on their appointment. As the need to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change becomes ever more urgent, they will help build our analysis for the fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. Michael’s knowledge of the water industry and of consumer issues and Ian’s expertise in the economics of climate adaptation will be immensely valuable contributions to our upcoming advice.

Biographical details

Dr Michael Keil

Michael is Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water, the statutory consumer body for the water sector. He brings over two decades of experience across Ofwat, Severn Trent Water, and the Met Office, with a strong focus on climate change adaptation, resilience, and consumer advocacy.

Michael holds a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Reading and began his career at the Met Office, where he led the Middle Atmosphere Group and contributed to the development of climate and weather models. At Ofwat, he established the regulator’s climate change policy framework, introduced carbon accounting, and assessed over £2 billion in climate-related investment proposals.

At Severn Trent Water, Michael led the development of the company’s Climate Change Adaptation Report and spearheaded the £350 million Birmingham Resilience Scheme — one of the largest climate adaptation investments in the UK water sector. His work involved strategic planning, business case development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

At the Consumer Council for Water, Michael has championed consumer interests in climate resilience, led major affordability reviews, and launched public engagement initiatives such as the ‘Waterfall’ podcast. He has served on multiple boards and advisory panels, including the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management’s climate change panel and the MOSL Strategic Panel, and has contributed evidence to national climate risk assessments and adaptation planning under the Climate Change Act.

Mr Ian Dickie

Ian is a Director at EFTEC (Economics for the Environment Consultancy), with over 25 years of experience as an applied environmental economist. He specialises in biodiversity, natural capital accounting, and the economic appraisal of environmental policy and infrastructure.

Ian has led over £3 million of research for UK Government departments and developed more than 50 natural capital accounts for sectors including transport, water, forestry, and finance. His work has supported policy development for Defra, the Natural Capital Committee, and the Cabinet Office, and includes contributions to the 25-Year Environment Plan and the UK’s first Natural Capital Risk Assessment.

He is a member of Defra’s Biodiversity Expert Committee and has served on advisory panels for the Royal Society of Arts, the Capitals Coalition, and the Peatland Code. Ian was also a technical editor for the British Standards Institute’s Flex 701 nature markets principles standard, published in 2025.

Ian’s expertise spans ecosystem market design, biodiversity finance, and climate adaptation economics. His work includes modelling climate risk in floodplain management, valuing storm protection in the Caribbean, and integrating climate scenarios into asset valuation. He is a published author in environmental economics and has contributed to guidance used by the United Nations Development Programme, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Cabinet Office, and all UK governments.

Further information

• The Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body created under the Climate Change Act (2008). The Adaptation Committee is jointly sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
• The Board for the Adaptation Committee comprises a chairperson and six members.
• Further information on the Climate Change Committee is available at: www.theccc.org.uk.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 October 2025.

New rules mean all commercial dog imports from Romania into Great Britain to undergo mandatory pre-import testing.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is today (October 6th) renewing calls on prospective dog buyers to source their dogs from responsible breeders in order to protect animal and public health. 

Steps people should take include not only sourcing dogs from reputable breeders or rescue organisations, but ensuring proper health checks and documentation are in place, and understanding the potential risks associated with importing or rehoming dogs from abroad. Vets, breeders, and rehoming organisations should remain alert to the signs of disease and follow best practice when handling, testing, or managing dogs at risk. 

There is a risk of imported dogs carrying diseases such as Brucella canis,  and even rabies, presenting a threat to the health of canine and human populations in the Great Britain.  

Since 2020, there has been a steady increase in the number of Brucella canis cases in Great Britain, the majority of which have been found in imported dogs with around 50% of all identified infections since 2020 coming from Romanian dog imports. 

Brucella canis is a serious disease affecting dogs that can lead to reproductive issues such as abortion, as well as joint pain and lameness. Many infected dogs show no obvious symptoms but remain infectious, meaning they can unknowingly spread the disease. Currently, there is no vaccine and no effective treatment to eliminate the infection or prevent its transmission. 

To protect our biosecurity, the government has introduced a safeguard measure which comes into force from tomorrow (October 7th) requiring all commercial dog imports from Romania into Great Britain to undergo mandatory pre-import testing for Brucella canis (B. canis).The measure applies to commercial imports only (which includes rescue dogs that are to be rehomed) and is in addition to existing requirements under the Approved Importer Scheme. It does not apply to non-commercial pet movements from Romania. 

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: 

Anyone considering getting a dog should make sure they are fully prepared for the responsibility. Importing dogs without the proper health checks or testing can increase the risk of introducing serious diseases like Brucella canis into Great Britain. 

The new rules on dogs imported from Romania are a necessary step to safeguard both animal and human health. I strongly urge prospective dog owners to do their research, choose reputable breeders or rescue organisations, and ensure all required health checks and tests are completed before bringing a dog into their home.

This safeguard will remain in place until the disease risk is judged to have reduced sufficiently. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will review the measure regularly to ensure it remains proportionate, evidence-based, and targeted at the areas of highest risk. 

The commercial import of dogs from other countries continues to be unaffected by this change. 

While the overall risk to the public is low, the disease is also zoonotic, meaning it can be passed from dogs to humans. Those with weakened immune systems, pregnant individuals, and children under five may be more vulnerable. Further public health information can be found here: Brucella canis: information for the public and dog owners – GOV.UK

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 October 2025.

Over £10 million in water company fines has been channelled into cleanup projects to repair the damage done by sewage– directly benefitting communities and the environment which have been harmed by rule breaking.  

Through the Water Restoration Fund, money from fines handed to five water companies will fund 51 projects across England, from active measures such as rewilding and restoring floodplains to funding for assessments of water quality and development of improvement plans.  

Anglian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and United Utilities were forced to pay millions after causing pollution incidents between April 2022 and October 2023.   

From restoring riverbeds in Exmoor National Park to tackling septic tank spills into Windermere, these projects will restore precious habitats, improve flood resilience and enable local wildlife to thrive.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:  

I share people’s anger at the damage caused by sewage pollution and want communities to once again feel they can take pride in their environment. 

This money from water company fines will be directed back into local projects to tackle pollution and support long-term plans for nature restoration. 

Under our Plan for Change we’re resetting the water industry – holding water companies to account and reinvesting in areas harmed by their rule breaking.

Projects, which span the length and breadth of the country, include a £1.2 million floodplain and river restoration project on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, as well as river restoration, nutrient capture and wetland creation in the Evenlode catchment in Oxfordshire. 

The Water Restoration Fund delivers on the government’s Plan for Change – empowering communities to invest money raised from water company wrongdoing back into the environment. 

The Government is committed to restoring our waterways to good health and will continue to direct water company fines and penalties into projects to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. With increased accountability, record investment to fix broken pipes, and a new powerful regulator responsible for the entire sector that will stand firmly on the side of customers and the environment.

Projects and funding distributions: 

Thames area (£3,318,392.84) 

• Coate Water Site of Special Scientific Interest Restoration Project (£83,306) 
• Restoring the River Ching (£175,729.13) 
• Citizen Crane, Catchment Scale Restoration of an Urban River (£133,755) 
• The Wandering Wandle (£161,217.18) 
• Emm Brook Restoration Project (£743,146.64) 
• Ilford Arrival, Restoring the Lower Roding (£113,415) 
• Improving the Evenlode Catchment (£780,780) 
• Rye to Good Phase 3 (£100,236) 
• The Keston Ponds Project (£248,853) 
• Colne Catchment (£143,737.89) 
• Rediscovering the River Colne (£198,807) 
• Ealing Regional Park River Restoration Plan (£250,000) 
• River Windrush and Sherborne Brook Catchment Improvement Project (£102,822) 
• Roundmoor and Boveney Chalk Stream Restoration Project (£82,588) 

East England (£3,036,664) 

• Upper Witham River and Floodplain Restoration Project (£1,185,957) 
• Great Ouse Blue Connections (£85,674) 
• Recovering the Deben (£248,274.32) 
• Slade Brook Natural Flood Management Project (£187,782) 
• A Collaborative Restoration Plan for the Cam (£179,602.54) 
• Welland Headwaters Nature-based Solutions (£107,053) 
• 20-year Strategy for restoration of river & floodplain habitats in the rivers Nene, Ise and Tove (£165,976.57) 
• Broadland Catchment Partnership Development Plan (£205,376.49) 
• Stanwick Lakes Hydrological Survey (£118,272) 
• Panford and Blackwater Catchment Regeneration Project (£552,696.08) 

South West (£1,849,513.04) 

• Heddon Valley (£162,694) 
• Otter Catchment- Source to Sea (£75,000) 
• Upper Barle River Restoration Project (£147,496) 
• Teign and Taw Fisheries Management (£664,286.50) 
• Arlington Lake, Fish Opening and Habitat Enhancement (£80,558.68) 
• Water Wise Farming (£81,105) 
• Restoration of the River Mere Catchment (£202,267.24) 
• Washfield Wetland (£202,609) 
• Improving the West Looe River Water Body (£95,394.34) 
• Catchment Planning – Avon, Gara & Slapton Ley, and Kingsbridge Salcombe Estuary (£138,102.28) 

Yorkshire (£1,533,722.28) 

• Dewsbury Country Park (£76,570.85) 
• Ashfoldside Metal Mines Project (£81,730) 
• Solutions for the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse, Foss, Wiske, & Wharfe (£75,236) 
• Water in the Wharfe (£249,445) 
• Foss & Esk River Restoration Improvement Studies (£130,060) 
• Derwent Site of Special Scientific Interest Project (£79,054.44) 
• Swaledale and Wensleydale Environmental Farmers (£222,960) 
• Connecting Limbs (£225,817) 
• Upper and Lower Staveley Weirs (£75,039.99) 
• Pickhill Beck (£93,473) 
• Feasibility Study for Doe Lea Catchment (£75,045) 
• Hornsea Mere Restoration (£149,291) 

North West (£758,161.50) 

• Stalybridge Restoration Planning (£97,055.50) 
• River Tame Barriers Modification Feasibility Study (£247,500) 
• Lakes Biosecurity Priority Area Project (£140,320) 
• River Cocker Catchment Restoration (£150,182) 
• Windermere STEP (Septic Tank Engagement Programme) (£123,104)

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 September 2025.

Strengthened Water Efficiency Standards will boost housebuilding and keep more money in families’ pockets.

Simple water-saving measures could save families in new homes over £100 a year on bills, while supporting a wave of new housing across Britain – delivering on the Plan for Change.

The government’s new efficiency rules will tackle water shortage bottlenecks and unblock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity helping to deliver the pledge of building 1.5million homes by 2030.

A consultation launched today will propose small changes to Building Regulations that could see new homes fitted with water-saving features such as aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets.

The change to the design standard will make new build housing more water efficient, equivalent to 20 litres per person per day. Analysis has shown this could save £111 a year on energy and water bills in new homes.

The small measures will also help the environment by reducing the amount that needs to be taken from rivers, lakes, and delicate chalk streams for public supply.

Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, said:

We are getting Britain building faster, and a key element to growth is smarter water consumption.

Removing the water shortage barriers that have stalled development for too long will mean unlocking thousands of new homes while saving families money.

Not only will this make customer bills cheaper; it will protect the environment and unlock thousands of new homes as part of our Plan for Change.

The 12-week consultation looks to amend the current Building Regulations 2010 Part G2, which are insufficient to meet the parallel challenges of housing delivery and water conservation.

A reduction of 20 litres per person per day could see an additional 1,000 new homes unlocked for every 5,250 homes built. This is particularly helpful in areas like Cambridge and north Sussex where planning has previously been blocked because water demand outstripped supply.  

The measures will support the government’s commitment to reduce water usage in England by 20% per person per day by 2038. It also puts us on track to use just 110 litres per head of the population by 2050.

Future innovations, such as using harvested rainwater to flush home toilets, are also being considered in a call to evidence that is running alongside the consultation.

England has seen seven consecutive months of below-average rainfall, with five areas in drought and more expected to follow soon despite the recent rain. Climate change and increased water demand means the nation needs to become more efficient with the water it has.  

Defra has worked closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to develop the consultation and ensure it supports housebuilding goals.

Dr. Tom Dollard, Chair, Good Homes Alliance welcomed the consultation saying: 

Our membership is facing real challenges in delivering new homes due to a lack of water capacity in their areas.  

If we are to meet the Government housing delivery targets and unlock economic growth then we must start building more ‘water smart’ homes and neighbourhoods.  

We would like to see a refreshed Part G that is aligned to the water neutrality hierarchy, and a fittings-based approach combined with a water labelling scheme that would deliver water efficient homes at scale across the UK.  

We encourage all stakeholders from across industry to respond to this important consultation.” 

Ed Lockhart, CEO of Future Homes Hub:

Water shortages are already constraining housing growth and the water supply shortfall at national and regional levels will widen without concerted action.

To sustain delivery of new homes at the levels required for everyone to have a decent home, homes need to become progressively more water efficient, alongside largescale investment in water infrastructure and demand management in other sectors.

That is why the Future Homes Hub proposed a water efficiency roadmap for the new homes sector in the 2024 Water Ready report. We therefore welcome the Government consulting on proposed efficiency measures and look forward to working with the Government to ensure water efficiency can be implemented affordably at scale whilst delivering on customer expectations.” 

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 September 2025.

With strong backgrounds in public policy and social entrepreneurship, the new appointees will provide strategic and corporate leadership for the department.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE and Dan Corry have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors to the board of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Dan and Allison bring a wealth of experience in public policy and social entrepreneurship. Allison has been the Chief Executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy since 2015, while Dan is Chief Economist at the Future Governance Forum and recently completed a review of environmental regulation for Defra. Their appointments will last for one year. 

Non-executive board members are senior figures from outside government, appointed to provide challenge to government departments.

The Defra Board provides strategic, corporate leadership to the department and has particular responsibility for monitoring performance and delivery. 

Biographies

Allison Ogden-Newton

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE is an experienced charity professional and social entrepreneur, having worked as Chief Executive at World Child Cancer and Social Enterprise London. She was founder of breakthrough social value think-tank The Transition Institute.

Since becoming Chief Executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy in 2015, Allison has led a transformation of the charity, including the introduction of the country’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign, the Great British Spring Clean, and raising its profile through regular media appearances and large-scale behaviour change campaigns.

Allison has a master’s degree from Warwick Business School and is a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She has acted as an equal value advisor to the then Equal Opportunities Commission and served as a member of the government’s Department of Innovation and Skills, Women’s Enterprise Taskforce.

She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a board member of the British Cleaning Council and Wildlife and Countryside Link.

Allison was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours 2019/20 for her services to the environment and social enterprise.

Dan Corry

Dan Corry is Chief Economist at the Future Governance Forum. He brings extensive experience in public policy and economics from roles across government, think tanks and the private sector.

Dan recently completed 13 years as Chief Executive of New Philanthropy Capital, a think tank and consultancy that works to improve the impact of the social sector. From 2007 to 2010, he served as Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit and Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Economy. He has also held roles as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Treasury and as a special adviser to Secretaries of State at the Department for Education, as well as the then Department for Trade and Industry, Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions, and Department for Communities and Local Government.

Earlier in his career, Dan was Director in the Economics segment of FTI Consulting and ran the New Local Government Network think tank (now New Local) from 2002 to 2005. He worked as Senior Economist at the IPPR in the 1990s and began his career as a civil service economist in the Employment Department and the Treasury.

Dan chairs the Carers Trust charity, which supports a network of 130 local charities helping unpaid carers. He is also a trustee of homelessness charity St Mungo’s. His previous roles include membership of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, the Research Committee of the ESRC, the Greater Manchester Economic Advisory Panel and the Financial Advisory Committee of the Football Association.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 September 2025.

Latest meeting takes place today chaired by Floods Minister Emma Hardy.

Communities up and down the country continue to benefit from increased flood protection thanks to the Government’s Floods Resilience Taskforce which convenes today (Monday 8 September).

In the last winter storm period, the country saw several named storms. This includes in November when the country was met by Storm Bert, causing severe flooding, while Storm Conall arrived a few days later, bringing further rainfall. During the whole period, around 167,000 properties were protected from flooding by Environment Agency assets.

The group’s fourth meeting will discuss and prepare for possible flooding this winter – while also reflecting on the challenges and achievements of the last 12 months.

Established in September 2024, the Taskforce was set up to ensure a long-term, strategic approach to bolstering the nation’s resilience to extreme weather, as well as speeding up the delivery of new flood and coastal defence schemes to better protect vulnerable communities.

Since being launched, the Taskforce has:

• Facilitated rapid information sharing between partners ahead of and during these incidents, and lessons learned have helped to prepare the nation ahead of this winter.
• Helped deliver an improved forecasting service for surface water flooding – known as Rapid Flood Guidance. This provides short notice updates on incoming flood risks and helps first responders in their decision-making to protect lives.
• Established Action Groups focused on three specific services – flood warnings, flood recovery and flood insurance. These groups have been created to deliver systemic improvements to the way the public engages with these services, with updates provided at future meetings as their work develops.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

I know first-hand the disruption that flooding has on people’s lives and the unexpected costs it causes.

Since being established last year, our Taskforce has helped ensure communities have the protection they need from the dangers of flooding.

Under our Plan for Change, we are investing billions to build new flood defences, which will protect homes and businesses across the country.

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said:

As we head into autumn, we need to think about flood risk even though drought is still being felt in some parts of the country.

Our priority is to ensure communities are protected from the risk of flooding as our changing climate brings more extreme weather.

Working with our partners in the Floods Resilience Taskforce, we will continue to ensure the nation’s flood resilience is bolstered by delivering new flood and coastal defences in towns and cities across the country.

With a new weather and climate outlook from the Met Office indicating an increased likelihood of a wetter than average autumn is approaching, the gathering of key flood responders – including Floods Minister Emma Hardy, the emergency services, and the Environment Agency – comes at a crucial time.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Will Lang, said:

While the longer-range forecast leans towards wetter-than-average conditions for the coming months, rainfall is likely to vary significantly across regions. There is an increased likelihood of westerly weather patterns, which typically bring more rainfall to western and northern parts of the UK, while eastern and southern areas may experience drier conditions than the national average suggests.

Importantly, despite the overall signal for wetter weather, this outlook does not guarantee that current drought conditions will ease consistently across the country.

This outlook will play a vital role in supporting Taskforce members to prepare for the forthcoming winter period, and ensure communities are better protected from the impacts of flooding.

During the meeting, the Taskforce will also discuss the Environment Agency’s progress in the development of a new Flood Warning Service, outlining how user feedback has shaped the system to better serve the public. The meeting will also consider the progress made to deliver the current flood and coastal defence programme, while also hearing from the Taskforce’s Insurance Action Group on plans to improve the insurance protection available to homeowners across the country.

The wider work of the Floods Resilience Taskforce also includes:

• Delivering the Environment Agency’s new national flood warning and forecasting centre.
• Initiating a review of multi-agency flood plans, focused on assessing their quality and providing feedback on how they can be strengthened.
• Developing new toolkits for MPs and Mayors to support their understanding of flood warning systems. This includes practical guidance on flood response and how to support their constituents during flood events.
• Streamlining the Flood Recovery Framework to enable faster identification of eligibility areas and extended the time by local authorities can claim business and community recovery grants.

The Government has committed a record investment of £2.65 billion over two years towards building and repairing over 1,000 flood defences. This is alongside pledging a record £7.9 billion over 10 years to deliver the largest capital floods programme history, which will protect 840,000 homes and businesses in England.

In 2024/25, £36 million was spent to undertake urgent repairs to flood defences damaged in the previous winter’s extreme flooding, with a further £72 million this year to maintain and repair assets. 92.7% of high consequence assets are now at their required condition.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 August 2025.

The SPS agreement will making trading with the UK’s biggest market faster, easier and cheaper, adding up to £5.1bn a year to the UK economy.

• Local food businesses to hear how the government’s upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers.
• Deal will save businesses time and money by cutting red tape and speeding up trade as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
• Trade with the UK’s biggest market will be faster, easier and cheaper, adding £5.1bn a year to the UK economy.

Major food businesses will discuss the government’s new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU that will cut costs, slash red tape and support their profits, with the food security minister Daniel Zeichner.

Benefits include the scrapping of most routine border checks on food and agricultural products moving between the UK and EU, allowing faster trade across the UK and EU border, with less paperwork and at lower costs for businesses.

Trading food with the UK’s biggest export and import market will be cheaper and easier, adding up to £5.1 billion a year to the UK economy in the long run and benefitting businesses of all sizes, while easing pressure on consumer food prices.

Benefits of the new SPS agreement include:

• British goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat entering the EU are currently subject to 100% documentary checks and up to 30% physical checks. The SPS agreement will see these time-consuming, expensive, and paperwork-riddled processes removed entirely.
• The removal of Export Health Certificates (an official export document required to trade animals and animal products) alone will save businesses up to £200 per shipment of goods, meaning a single lorry carrying a mixed load of animal products could see £1000s in reduced costs.
• The EU currently bans imports of basic UK products such as fresh sausages and burgers, some shellfish, and seed potatoes. The SPS agreement will remove this ban and reopen the EU market for these goods, supporting businesses to expand their production and stimulating new jobs.

The minister will today tour meat processor Dunbia’s Cardington plant outside Bedford with senior Dunbia executives, before visiting Co-op’s flagship distribution centre in Biggleswade with Supply Chain Director Nick Cornwell, Logistics Director Ian Gibb, and Head of Public Affairs Andrew Weston – meeting staff and discussing the forthcoming SPS agreement.

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

Helping businesses to grow at home, trade abroad and stimulate jobs is central to our Plan for Change.

This deal will make trading with the EU both easier and cheaper, adding over £5bn to the economy and spurring growth that the whole country will benefit from.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, said:

Being able to move food and drink more smoothly between the UK and EU, whilst maintaining high standards, is good news for our industry, for our business, and therefore for our members, customers, and the communities we serve.

We wholeheartedly welcome the positive steps the government and the EU have taken towards reducing unnecessary friction in the food supply chain. We look forward to working with the UK government to ensure businesses of all sizes – including smaller businesses – benefit from the new arrangements.

Niall Browne, CEO of Dunbia, said:

We welcome the Minister and his colleagues to our plant at Dunbia Cardington to show what we do and the importance of the export business to the EU for Dunbia and the British Food Industry.

The new SPS agreement between the UK and EU is a very welcomed development and this should result in potential cost savings for our business and a smoother delivery to our EU customers which are important to balance the carcase sales.

Protecting UK biosecurity remains a key government priority, and risk-based surveillance will continue to manage the biosecurity risks of imported food products until the agreement is completed and in force.