Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 August 2025.

Environmental permitting for industry and energy to be modernised, as part of new plans following the landmark Corry Review.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 August 2025.

Britain’s broken planning and development system is rewired to accelerate infrastructure delivery and homebuilding while safeguarding the environment

First-time home buyers and local communities will reap the benefits as Britain’s broken planning and development system is rewired to accelerate infrastructure delivery and homebuilding while safeguarding the environment under the Plan for Change.

Environmental planning reforms will be backed by £500 million, which includes funding for the government’s flagship Nature Restoration and Marine Recovery Fund schemes and funding to build capacity in the planning system. This will help to process planning applications faster and help developers bring their projects to life, without compromising on environmental protections – ensuring we build 1.5 million homes and fast-track 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament.

The Lower Thames Crossing – set to cut congestion for motorists and drive growth across the country – will become the first major UK infrastructure project to have one lead environmental body in charge. A clear, single point of contact will cut the time it takes to secure planning permissions and approvals for large-scale developments, boosting project certainty and minimising costs and delays.

Moreover, communities across Britain will benefit from new transport, energy and housing schemes sooner, thanks to a new dedicated body that will address planning issues early to keep critical projects on track.

The Defra Group Infrastructure Board will help accelerate the planning process for at least 50 major infrastructure projects, including Hinkley Point C, East West Rail and Heathrow expansion.

Early oversight will help to identify challenges such as those faced by HS2 in building the bat tunnel, meaning that for future similar situations alternative solutions to meet environmental obligations can be explored earlier in the process – ensuring proportionate decisions are made and reducing costs and delays.

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“People can’t find affordable homes to live in because Britain’s broken planning system has blocked building work, and that’s pushed up prices.

“These changes will get spades in the ground quicker so developers can build the homes families need.

“This is all part of the Government’s Plan for Change that will boost the economy and create jobs by building more homes and also provide new funding from developers to benefit nature.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:

“We have been stuck with a status quo that has stopped us building the homes we need, and has done nothing for nature’s recovery.

“Communities deserve better, that’s why we’re pushing ahead with our pro-growth reforms to not only deliver vital homes and infrastructure, but drive real, lasting recovery for the environment.

“This is another step towards our 1.5 million homes Plan for Change target which will restore the dream of homeownership, end the housing crisis, and boost economic growth across the country.”

The measures announced today build on a £500 million funding package announced as part of the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy. This funding will give the planning system a boost to help build the homes families need whilst supporting nature recovery on land and at sea at scale. As recommended by the Corry Review, it will increase the capacity of Natural England and the Environment Agency to process planning applications faster, through the use of spatial planning and digital technologies. This will not only help to improve our natural environment but also enable delivery of vital national infrastructure such as wind farms, railways, gigafactories and data centres.

The new Lead Environmental Regulator approach will end the merry-go-round of developers dealing with multiple, overlapping authorities. Instead, one environmental regulator will deliver a coordinated response on behalf of all regulators. Natural England will take on this role for the Lower Thames Crossing, working seamlessly with the Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation to provide joined-up advice.

This government is clear; we will no longer accept Britain’s rigid system of regulation as the status quo. Regulators and regulation must work for the people of Britain, not get in the way of progress.

By facilitating greater collaboration and stronger oversight within Defra and its arm’s-length bodies, the new Infrastructure Board will overcome bureaucratic barriers and keep projects moving at pace. It will closely monitor an evolving list of significant infrastructure projects, including renewable energy projects critical to meeting the 2030 clean power mission. These could include offshore wind and solar farms, electricity transmission lines, and other nationally significant infrastructure projects.

This package demonstrates rapid delivery of high-impact recommendations from a landmark review of environmental regulation, led by former Head of the No10 Policy Unit Dan Corry and commissioned by Steve Reed. Of the 29 recommendations published in April 2025, 9 are already being fast-tracked by Defra, with the government actively considering next steps on the remaining 20.

This represents a significant step forward in delivering on the government’s Plan for Change commitment to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament and fast-track 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure – more than double the number decided in the previous Parliament.

Notes to editors:

• The Nature Restoration Fund will enable infrastructure builders to meet their environmental obligations faster and at greater scale by pooling contributions from developers to fund larger strategic interventions for nature. This approach will mean the burden of individual site-level assessments and delivering mitigation and compensation is reduced. Further information is on gov.uk.
• The Marine Recovery Fund will deliver industry-funded, strategic measures to compensate for adverse effects of offshore wind developments on marine protected areas – supporting the Clean Power Mission.

Lead Environmental Regulator

Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said:

Infrastructure, housing and nature are not competing interests. Sustainable development and nature recovery must go hand in hand, and urgent action is needed to restore our depleted nature and build desperately needed homes and infrastructure.

That’s why we’re proud to be the Lead Environmental Regulator delivering the Lower Thames Crossing. This model brings developers and all the regulators together to agree how to avoid environmental harm and plan opportunities for nature recovery, so streamlining the approvals process.

Matt Palmer, Executive Director, Lower Thames Crossing, said:

As one of the Britain’s most important economic infrastructure projects we are delighted to be the first to work with a Lead Environmental Regulator. Driving economic growth and enhancing nature are at the heart of the Lower Thames Crossing. As we gear up to start construction, this new approach will help us to move at pace, while ensuring we protect the natural environment and meet our environmental commitments.”

On Lower Thames Crossing:

• The Lower Thames Crossing will be a new road crossing connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex. Approximately 14.5 miles (23km) in length, it will connect to the existing road network from the A2/M2 to the M25 with two tunnels (one southbound and one northbound) running beneath the River Thames.
• The Lead Environmental Regulator pilots will test a new operating model for how environmental regulators support major development projects. The project team is working with developers and regulators to identify suitable projects on which to pilot the approach. These pilots will test new ways of working and team structures including:
• Better coordination – through clear named contacts for developers, who will coordinate all input, push work ahead at an appropriate speed and resolve issues.
• Ensuring coherent advice across regulators to give developers a single view.
• Streamlined processes sharing data, information and expert advice across all regulators to build a shared project understanding, improve coordination and accelerate decisions.
• Resolving issues to escalate quickly where there is disagreement or divergence, by identifying causes, resolving them and reaching consensus before involving developers or other stakeholders. Proposed innovative solutions will be resolved at working level or escalated quickly, including to the Infrastructure Board. Defra will consider the use of Ministerial powers to unblock issues if necessary.
• Set a proactive, energetic and “can-do” culture across regulators which is focused on enabling development whilst protecting and improving the environment.

On Infrastructure Board:

• The Board will not pre-empt or influence the consenting process, which will continue to be overseen by the Planning Inspectorate.
• The measures announced today support many of the commitments in the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy. For example, the Defra Infrastructure Board will help support fast-tracking 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 August 2025.

The forthcoming deal will slash red tape, cut costs for businesses, and speed up the smooth flow of agrifood trade at the border.

• Introduction of time-consuming border checks suspended
• It comes ahead of the UK’s forthcoming SPS deal with the EU
• Deal will save businesses time and money by cutting red tape as part of government’s Plan for Change

In a win for traders, the government is suspending the introduction of extra border checks on live animal imports from the EU, and on specific animal and plant goods from Ireland, to support British businesses and ease trade ahead of its new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU.

The deal will establish a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary zone, cutting costs and red tape for businesses that export and import from the EU, reducing delays at the border, and making food trade with the UK’s biggest market cheaper and easier.

Under the agreement, border checks on live animal imports from the EU as well as on certain plant and animal goods arriving from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (termed non-qualifying goods) will not be required, as their implementation is disproportionate.

Some live animals imported from the EU will continue to be inspected at their place of destination based on a series of risk factors. Non-qualifying goods arriving from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can continue to enter the UK without physical inspection, and will continue to require pre-notification and certification in some instance.

Protecting UK biosecurity remains a key government priority, and risk-based surveillance will continue to manage the biosecurity threats of these products.

Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said:

Our deal with the EU will boost British businesses as we cut cumbersome bureaucracy and make trading food with our biggest market both cheaper and easier.

Protecting the UK’s biosecurity is essential, and our partnership with the EU will ensure this while delivering for working people as part of our Plan for Change.”

The suspension will be reviewed on a rolling basis to ensure the biosecurity of the UK is effectively maintained.

The forthcoming SPS agreement will remove routine border checks on plant and animal products moving between the UK and EU, strengthening food supply chains and reducing costs for businesses and consumers.

While the details of the agreement are negotiated, traders must continue to comply with the terms of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) that protect the essential biosecurity of the country, including existing checks.

Defra will continue to work with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Border Control Post operators, and Port Health Authorities to maintain UK biosecurity while minimising disruption to the flow of goods.

This suspension follows the announcement in June that border checks on EU fruit and veg imports have been scrapped to ease trade ahead of the SPS deal.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 August 2025.

A continuous path from the Scottish border to Gibraltar point in Lincolnshire has officially been completed with the trail between Easington to Bridlington  .

The final stretch of King Charles III England Coast Path in Yorkshire and the North East has officially opened today (18 August)

The new stretch joins Easington to Bridlington, forming a continuous path from the Scottish border down to Gibraltar point, in Lincolnshire, some 397 miles. It is the latest part of the 2,700 mile (4345km) national path to be completed.

Commencing at the village of Easington, the King Charles III England Coast Path traces a remarkable route northward along the Holderness coastline. The path reveals a striking juxtaposition between industrial landscapes, such as the Easington Gas Terminal, and the natural beauty of the ever-changing clay cliffs and expansive beaches below.

Progressing north, the trail passes through the resort town of Withernsea and crosses the first landfall of the Prime Meridian near Sand Le Mere. It continues past the historic site of the former RAF Cowden before arriving at Hornsea, a coastal town noted for its recently regenerated Victorian Promenade and charming seaside character.

The journey then skirts the vibrant holiday parks that dot the Holderness coast, eventually reaching the rolling dunes south of Bridlington. From there, the path enters the town’s lively harbour and esplanade before culminating in North Bridlington.

1,800 Miles Done, 900 To Go

The King Charles III England Coast Path will be a 2,700-mile long National Trail around the whole of the English coast, passing through some of our finest countryside and some of England’s most stunning, dynamic and internationally famous coastal scenery.

Natural England has worked in partnership with local authorities to open 1814 miles of the route so far – connecting communities from Northumberland to Cumbria via Cornwall.

Commenting on the approval, Paul Duncan Natural England Deputy Director for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, said:

Todays new route opens up easy access to our spectacular local coastline for people across the country. It invites visitors to discover the stunning North East shoreline, renowned for its unique blend of heritage and seaside charm, featuring historic gems like Withernsea Pier Towers and Bridlington Harbour.

With this latest, and final stretch, for Yorkshire and North East marking 1814 miles of the King Charles III England Coast Path now open, the benefits of walking for health and wellbeing through getting closer to nature are becoming more available for all. The trail will also support the local economy and growth – bringing walkers and visitors to the towns and villages for daytrips, refreshments and places to stay.

Connecting Coastal Communities

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, cabinet member for heritage and coastal at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:

We are delighted to announce that the final section of the new National Trail is now open, seamlessly connecting the previously established stretches of the King Charles III England Coast Path.

Thanks to funding from Natural England, a range of enhancements have been carried out to bring the path up to National Trail standards, with particular attention given to accessibility and environmental sustainability. Walking is a year-round activity, and its ability to extend the tourism season makes it a valuable contributor to the local economy.

This newly completed route is expected to attract both domestic and international visitors, inviting them to experience our natural landscapes, heritage, culture and recreational opportunities. It will also enrich the walking experience for local residents who already enjoy the path.

The King Charles III England Coast Path represents a positive development for coastal communities, creating stronger links between them and encouraging exploration through a continuous, scenic walking route.

Start your adventure and discover your perfect trail with National Trails. So that everyone can make the most of the King Charles III England Coast Path, please follow the Countryside Code. This includes not bringing BBQs or dropping litter, and not lighting fires or camping stoves.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 August 2025.

Five areas remain in drought with six more in prolonged dry weather.

The National Drought Group met today (Monday 11 August) with the current water shortfall situation in England now defined as a “nationally significant incident.”

Five areas are officially in drought, with six more experiencing prolonged dry weather following the driest six months to July since 1976.

Despite the unsettled weather last month, many river flows and reservoir levels in England continued to recede compared to June.

Rainstorms and showers helped mask the fact that July was still the fifth warmest on record.

August has started to see a return of drier conditions and the fourth heatwave of the summer – putting more pressure on already struggling public water supplies and navigational waterways.

The National Drought Group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – used the meeting to highlight the water-saving measures each sector is taking.

They also praised the public for reducing their own daily usage, with Yorkshire Water reporting a 10% reduction in domestic demand following their hosepipe ban. This equates to saving up to 80 million litres per day – equivalent to 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The less water that is used, the less needs to be abstracted from local rivers – therefore protecting the health of our waterways and wildlife.

The Environment Agency’s Director of Water and NDG chair, Helen Wakeham said:

The current situation is nationally significant, and we are calling on everyone to play their part and help reduce the pressure on our water environment.

Water companies must continue to quickly fix leaks and lead the way in saving water. We know the challenges farmers are facing and will continue to work with them, other land users, and businesses to ensure everyone acts sustainably.

We are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to conserve water in these dry conditions. Simple, everyday choices – such as turning off a tap or deleting old emails – also really helps the collective effort to reduce demand and help preserve the health of our rivers and wildlife.

The recent rainfall has been welcomed by growers, although the impacts from the dry weather remain as farmers continue their harvest.

The National Farmers Union noted how water shortages have impacted the growing season this year.

NFU Vice-President, Rachel Hallos said:

British farmers and growers continue to face extremely dry conditions, with harvest underway and crop yields proving mixed across the country. Some farms are reporting a significant drop in yields, which is financially devasting for the farm business and could have impacts for the UK’s overall harvest.

Farming is a long-term industry and there is growing concern about the months ahead. Minimal grass growth means many livestock farmers are already tapping into winter feed stocks, raising the risk of higher production costs later in the year.

Access to clean, reliable water is essential for food production. What’s worked well during this drought has been early, coordinated communication with stakeholders around licence restrictions and drought permits and orders and it’s crucial this continues.

To avoid the swing between extreme drought and flooding and to secure water supplies for food production, we urgently need investment in water infrastructure and a more effective planning system.

Periods of dry weather and low rivers reduce oxygen levels in water that can lead to fish kills and more algal blooms. Lower river flows also prevent wildlife from moving up or downstream.

Drying out wetlands can be devastating for species that depend on those habits while England has seen an increase in wildfires, devastating vulnerable areas of heathland and moorland.

The Met Office updated the group on the future weather outlook, noting drier weather has returned.

Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Dr Will Lang said:

This week is starting off warmer than of late across England and Wales with temperatures getting towards the mid-30s Celsius for some in the south.

While conditions remain mostly settled across the south, the picture is more unsettled further northwest, with rain or showers at times.

As we move into the second half of August, there are indications of high pressure building and therefore largely settled conditions overall. Although dry weather is more likely, rain, showers or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out.

The heat and climate change also impact human health, through issues such as heatstroke, dehydration, and respiratory problems.

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, have also briefed Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, about the situation.

Speaking after attending the meeting, Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

Working with the National Drought Group, the Government is urgently stepping up its response to ensure we are successfully managing the impacts of ongoing dry weather.

Water companies must now take action to follow their drought plans – I will hold them to account if they delay.

We face a growing water shortage in the next decade. That’s why we are pushing ahead with root and branch reform under our Plan for Change, which includes £104 billion of private investment to build nine reservoirs and new pipes to cut leaks.

CURRENT SITUATION

• Drought has been declared in: Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire, East Midlands, and the West Midlands.
• Areas in prolonged dry weather (the phase before drought) are: Northeast, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, East Anglia, Thames, Wessex, Solent and South Downs.
• The remaining areas are normal: Hertfordshire, London, Kent, Devon and Cornwall.
• Yorkshire Water has a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB aka hosepipe ban) in place for all its customers.
• Thames, South East Water, and Southern Water have postcode-specific bans.
• Reservoirs fell by 2% last week and are now 67.7% full on average across England. The average for the first week of August is 80.5%. Last month, the average was 75.6%
• The lowest reservoirs are Blithfield (49.1%), Derwent Valley (47.2%), Chew Valley Lake (48.3%), Blagdon (46.3%).
• Rainfall in July was 89% of long-term average for the month across England. This is the sixth consecutive month of below average rainfall.
• Across the country, 51% of river flows were normal with the rest below normal, notably low or exceptionally low.
• Two rivers – Wye and Ely Ouse – were the lowest on record for July
• There are currently navigation closures or restrictions across sections of the Leeds and Liverpool, Macclesfield, Trent and Mersey, Peak Forest, Rochdale, Oxford and Grand Union Canal.
• More information here Dry weather and drought in England: 25 to 31 July 2025 – GOV.UK

ACTIONS BY NATIONAL DROUGHT GROUP MEMBERS

• The UK Health Security Agency is working with the National Drought Group to update its public health impacts of drought guidance
• Water companies are communicating with customers about current risks and advising them how to use water wisely during this dry period.
• Water companies have stepped up action on leakage, with leaks down 41% compared to the level in 1989 when the industry was privatised.
• Over £700 million has been committed by water companies to tackle leaks over the next five years.
• Water companies have committed to reducing leakage by 50% from a 2017-18 baseline by 2050.
• Yorkshire Water reported that repairs of leaks identified by smart meters had saved 1.5 million litres per day.
• Yorkshire Water is fixing over 800 leaks per week.
• Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is fixing over 700 leaks per week.
• Over 500,000 customers with Anglian Water have had leaks identified via their smart meters. This helped the firm reduce leaks by a total of 187 million litres a day, equivalent to 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• Anglian Water’s satellite technology has also helped prioritise leak detection, saving over 320,000 litres of water a day in rural areas, enough to supply 1,000 homes.
• Southern Water has 24,000 acoustic sensors attached to the 15,500km of their water network to help detect leaks.
• In the last 12 months, Southern Water have reduced leaks by almost 20%, saving 138.7 million litres per day.
• Severn Trent has handed out 700 x 1,100 litre bowsers to farmers and several to the West Midlands Safari Park so livestock and animals have water.
• Water-saving messaging has helped reduce demand in the Severn Trent area by 20%, compared to the peak on 11th July.
• United Utilities are repairing more than 800 leaks a week and have seen a 200% increase in reports of leaks from customers.
• United Utilities is offering free home water audits in some areas, with more than 3,700 booked in.
• Thames Water has installed over one million smart meters, which are critical in helping locate leaks.
• Since June, Thames Water has fixed over 1,000 leaks in the region impacted by the hosepipe ban.

DROUGHT AND THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

• The Environment Agency continues to work with Government, including Defra and the Cabinet Office, on the drought response.
• The Environment Agency has escalated its operational response and diverted resources to ensure a rapid and nationwide response.
• It is conducting more compliance checks on businesses who abstract water to ensure regulations are met.
• It is actively engaging with water companies on requests for drought permits and drought orders and ensuring they follow their drought plans.
• There is increased monitoring of river and groundwater level and more modelling of rainfall patterns to inform decisions, including additional restrictions.
• The Environment Agency is working closely with farmers in East Anglia, requesting voluntary reductions on surface water abstraction. This will help conserve and extend the total period when water is available for abstraction, protect the environment and delay the need for any formal restrictions.
• The regulator has sped up the process of alerting abstractors about restrictions.  Manage your water abstraction licence online – GOV.UK.
• The EA is managing potential navigation issues caused by low flows on the Rivers Thames, Lark and Great Ouse.

HOW TO SAVE WATER AT HOME

• Install a rain butt to collect rainwater to use in the garden.
• Fix a leaking toilet – leaky loos can waste 200-400 litres a day.
• Use water from the kitchen to water your plants.
• Avoid watering your lawn – brown grass will grow back healthy.
• Turn off the taps when brushing teeth or shaving.
• Take shorter showers.
• Delete old emails and pictures as data centres require vast amounts of water to cool their systems.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 August 2025.

Bill for recycling waste electricals to shift towards online marketplaces to create a level playing field for UK retailers.

Online marketplaces will now help cover the costs of cleaning up waste electricals, like washing machines, radios and vacuum cleaners, from our homes and streets, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh announced today (Tuesday 12 August), as new regulations ensuring a level playing field for UK retailers come into force to make the system fairer.

Before now, UK-based firms covered the costs for the collection and processing of electrical waste, which placed them at a disadvantage compared to their online rivals based abroad.

In collaboration with online marketplaces, from today a new system will ensure they help pay for dealing with broken electrical items, such as broken radios to battered fridges – ensuring this harmful waste is collected and recycled, rather than fly-tipped by individuals into the natural environment. The changes will for the first time ensure the country’s manufacturers and importers do not unduly bear the cost burden of managing waste they did not create – making the system fairer for British businesses.

Electrical waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. Industry estimates by Material Focus found more than 100,000 tonnes of electricals, like irons and microwaves, are binned across the UK every year.

Bringing the rules for online marketplaces into force helps deliver on the government’s Plan for Change to end the nation’s throwaway culture and stop the avalanche of waste filling our high streets, countryside and oceans.

The funds generated will also improve the collection and treatment of waste items collected by local authorities and returned to retailers, helping to move the nation towards a more circular economy and ensure there is increased investment in critical recycling infrastructure and green jobs to deliver growth.

The government has engaged extensively with online marketplaces and retailers throughout this process and look forward to a new system which is fairer for all.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:

We are committed to moving towards a circular economy in which we keep electricals from laptops to toasters in use for longer.

Ensuring online marketplaces pay their share for managing the cost of the electrical waste they generate will increase recycling and level the playing field for UK-based retailers, boosting growth and making the system fairer through our Plan for Change.

Paula Coughlan, Chief People, Communications & Sustainability Officer at Currys said:

We welcome this positive change that helps create a more level playing field for UK retailers. It is important that the responsibility to safely dispose of electronic waste is shared fairly, and we’re pleased the Government has listened to us and other industry leaders. It’s an encouraging step, and we look forward to the Government’s broader Circular Economy Strategy.

Currys is already leading the way in giving tech longer life, through initiatives like Cash for Trash, and we have ambitious ideas to take this further through close collaboration with industry and Government. As well as making online marketplaces pay for the waste they create, we should be going further to set stretch targets and incentivise investment in cleaning it up too. We believe with the right skills and infrastructure in place, the UK can build a thriving circular economy – enabling lasting and sustainable change.

John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, said:

We welcome the Government’s focus in this critical area and look forward to continuing our work with the Circular Economy Taskforce to drive further innovation, supporting the UK’s transition to a more circular economy. We believe retailers have an important role to play in reducing waste, which is why we prioritise reselling, refurbishing, donating or recycling products wherever possible.

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said:

We welcome the new vape category announced today, which provides a further opportunity to tighten up the environmental enforcement of vapes. By understanding how many vapes are being sold, Defra can set targets to ensure that vape producers make their fair contribution to the costs of recycling these products.

Clarifying that online marketplaces for electricals must now meet producer responsibilities for their non-UK based sellers is also welcome. This means that they will take their share of the costs of recycling electrical products at the end of their life.  This will also mean that the rise in FastTech, the ultra-cheap, small electrical items, which are surging onto the market will be captured, as the majority of their sales are through online channels.

Under the new rules, online marketplaces will need to register with the Environment Agency and report data on sales made by their overseas sellers in the UK. This data will be used to calculate the amount of recycling companies must finance annually.

Alongside the additional requirements for online marketplaces, a new category of electrical equipment for vapes has been introduced to ensure the costs of their collection and treatment fall fairly on those who produce them.

Vapes contain valuable and critical materials such as lithium and copper and industry research from Material Focus suggests the number thrown away each year could instead power more than 10,000 electric vehicles.

With wasteful single-use vapes disappearing from the shelves of the nation’s shops as a ban on sale and supply came into effect on 1 June, the government is now taking decisive action to ensure vape producers pay their fair share to manage the waste arising from reusable products.

The government is committed to moving towards a circular economy in which electricals are kept in use for longer and less waste goes to landfill. A Circular Economy Taskforce of experts has been convened to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England, as part of which there will be a roadmap to increase the reuse and recycling of electrical equipment.

Material Focus’s ‘Recycle Your Electricals’ campaign provides a postcode locator tool on its website to help people find local recycling points for their old electrical items, making it easier for everyone to recycle anything with a plug, battery, or cable.