Committee publication · Correspondence · 10 April 2025
Correspondence from the Secretary of State regarding Dan Corry’s Review of DEFRA’s Regulatory Landscape, dated 2 April 2024
Summary
Secretary of State Steve Reed writes to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee announcing the publication of Dan Corry's review of DEFRA's regulatory landscape. The review finds environmental regulation outdated, inconsistent, and complex. Reed outlines nine fast-tracked measures to streamline regulation, including appointing a lead regulator for major infrastructure, revamping environmental guidance, establishing a planning permit portal, and creating new governance structures to balance economic growth with nature recovery.
Key findings
- Dan Corry's review concludes the current environmental regulation system is outdated, inconsistent, and highly complex, delivering for neither nature nor growth
- Nine key measures are being fast-tracked, including a single lead regulator for major infrastructure projects to replace multi-authority approvals
- Natural England will review and update advice on bat protection to ensure clear, proportionate, and accessible guidance
- Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 will be updated to allow risk-based exemptions for low-risk and temporary projects
- A single planning portal will consolidate environmental regulators' digital systems; a Nature Market Accelerator will boost investment in natural habitats
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Steve Reed, Dan Corry, Alistair Carmichael, Natural England, Environment Agency, National Trust, DEFRA
Notable line
“The report finds the current system for environmental regulation is outdated, inconsistent and highly complex – delivering for neither nature nor growth.”
Key Quotes
“In October last year I commissioned the economist Dan Corry to conduct a review of Defra's regulatory landscape to examine opportunities to improve how regulations and regulators can drive economic growth while protecting the environment.”
“A single, lead regulator for major infrastructure projects will end the merry-go-round of developers seeking planning approvals from multiple authorities who often disagree with each other”
“Trusted nature groups will benefit from new freedoms to carry out conservation and restoration work without needing to apply for multiple permissions at every step of a project.”
“Clearer guidance and measurable ob- jectives for all Defra's regulators, starting with Natural England and the Environment Agency …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗