Government to delay biodiversity net-gain requirements for buildings

The target for built environment companies to achieve biodiversity net gains at sites has been pushed back until next year, the UK Government has announced. At the start of this year, the UK Government confirmed that developers will need to achieve 10% biodiversity net-gain (BNG) at all large domestic, commercial and mixed-use sites from this November […]

UK Government releases £1.5bn of funding for energy-efficient homes

The UK Government has announced a £1.5bn fund for local authorities and social housing providers to improve energy efficiency in 130,000 properties. The funding is being made available through two existing ‘Help to Heat’ schemes – the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. HUG is receiving up to £700m and the remaining […]

Upholding environmental standards if there’s no Brexit deal

The government has issued guidance around the potential impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit on environmental standards in the UK, affecting areas including waste, air quality, water, and protection of habitats and species. A large body of existing EU environmental law currently covers these areas and some of this legislation also delivers the UK’s commitments […]

Government unveils fund to tackle air pollution

Local authorities in some of the most polluted parts of the UK will be able to access a multi-million pound fund to boost air quality levels in their area. The government has unveiled a £220m fund to improve air quality plus a £40m support scheme for local authorities to combat air pollution, part of a […]

Launch of Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan

On 11 January, the Prime Minister launched the Government’s long-awaited 25 year plan to improve the environment, setting out ambitious targets for improving air quality, reducing waste, enhancing nature and mitigating and adapting to climate change. The Plan proposes an ‘environmental net gain’ principle for new development, which includes high environmental standards for all new builds, […]

Clean Growth Strategy

Much has been trailed about the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy since its launch last week. But is it all hot air or are there some nuggets in there which will energise the debate about our country’s future direction and place on the world stage when it comes to putting the environment at the heart of […]

Green Deal – long-term or short-term benefits?

It has been announced during a recent press release by the DECC that “Due to overwhelming popular demand, the Green Home Improvement Fund is closed for applications with immediate effect”.  The Green Deal Home Improvement fund only opened to application on 9th June 2014.  The article stipulated that “All applications received prior to the fund […]

Solar legal claim could rise above £100m

According to sources, the legal action against the government from solar firms claiming lost earnings caused by illegal changes to the solar electricity feed-in tariff could exceed £100m mark. Solar firms claim they lost millions of pounds worth of business after the government announced in October 2011 that it would cut the feed-in tariff (FIT) […]

November Feed In Tariff Cut

According to the Government promise to reduce the tariffs 3.5% every three months when the last Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) started in August 2012, the new Feed-in Tariffs starting November 2012 will be as follows: Description FIT rate p/kWh 0-4kW 15.44 >4-10kW 13.99 >10-50kW 13.03 >50-100kW 11.50 >100-150kW 11.50 >150-250kW 11.00 >250kW-5MW 7.10 Stand-alone 7.10 Export […]