Committee publication · Correspondence · 7 July 2026

Correspondence to Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State, Defra regarding managed burning licencing and wildfires, dated 7 July 2026

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Climate adaptation and emergency response

Summary

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee writes to the Secretary of State for Defra regarding concerns raised in evidence about the 2025 managed burning regulations. The letter highlights stakeholder worries about wildfire risks from vegetation buildup, licensing complexity and delays, and questions the scientific basis (NEER155 evidence review) underpinning the policy changes.

Key findings

190 evidence submissions received on wildfires, with 70% from individual land managers expressing concerns about increased wildfire likelihood due to vegetation buildup from the 2025 regulatory changes
Hurst and Chunal Moors held England's only licence for controlled burning on deep peat, but their restoration plan was rejected by the minister, rendering the licence unusable
Licensing process identified as overly complex, slow, time-consuming, and requiring large amounts of data
Stakeholders contested the scientific evidence underpinning Natural England's NEER155 evidence review, citing concerns about rigour, methodology, and transparency
Richard Bailey (Peak District Moorland Group) reported Defra rejected the NEER155 report and stated any inaccuracies are Natural England's responsibility

Tone

Procedural

Topics

environmental-regulationwildfire-managementland-managementevidence-policy

Key actors

Emma Reynolds MP, Alistair Carmichael MP, Hurst and Chunal Moors, Natural England, Richard Bailey, Peak District Moorland Group, Defra

Notable line

“Many land managers expressed apprehension about the increasing likelihood and severity of wildfires, due to vegetation buildup caused by this policy change 1 .”

Key Quotes

“Many land managers expressed apprehension about the increasing likelihood and severity of wildfires, due to vegetation buildup caused by this policy change 1 .”
— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee · Summary of evidence themes on the 2025 burning regulations

“… in the most recent burning season, they held the only licence permitting controlled burning on deep peat in England, which had to be personally approved by the minister. However, its restoration-plan (required by condition 6 of the licence) was not accepted, rendering the licence unusable.”
— Hurst and Chunal Moors · Evidence on licensing outcomes and challenges

“… the licensing process is overly complex, slow, time consuming and requires large amounts of data.”
— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee · Summary of stakeholder feedback on managed burning licence applications

“… he had concerns about the scientific rigour and methodology underpinning the evidence review”
— Richard Bailey · Criticism of the NEER155 evidence review

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗