Biodiversity / conservation

‘Huge blow’: Police probe as two more hen harriers vanish in northern England

Hen harrier. Image: Pixabay

Two hen harriers have vanished in 'suspicious circumstances' within the Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and North Yorkshire, according to the RSPB, which says their disappearance is a 'huge blow for a struggling species'

Policy

Peers reinstate REUL bill amendments as legislative ‘ping pong’ continues

Houses of Parliament. Source - GettyImages, Tim Grist Photography

The Retained EU Law Bill has continued its ‘ping pong’ stage between the House of Lords and the Commons, with peers yesterday voting to reinstate measures rejected by MPs, including amendments to ensure there is 'non-regression' on EU environmental rules and to strengthen the hand of Parliament in deciding which EU laws are revoked or amended

Environmental Law

DfT faces legal action over decision to ‘slash’ active transport funding

Cycling infrastructure (pic: cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Croft - geograph.org.uk/p/6511244)

The Department for Transport is facing legal action following a decision campaigners say 'slashed' funding for active travel schemes, contrary to legal requirements and the government's net zero objectives

Planning & land use

Supreme Court refuses to hear claim against Herefordshire Council over Wye pollution case

A Herefordshire resident who took his local council to court over its decision to grant planning permission for additional farm buildings near the river Wye has had his appeal refused due to a lack of 'public law grounds' in the case

Environmental Law

Norfolk road projects could compromise UK net zero target, court hears

If three road infrastructure projects in Norfolk go ahead, they will compromise the UK's ability to reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and contribute to climate change, the High Court has heard

Coal

Autumn date set for High Court challenge against Cumbrian coal mine consent

The Royal Courts of Justice (cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Paul Harrop - geograph.org.uk/p/5163722)

A double-pronged legal challenge against the government’s consent for a new coal mine at Whitehaven in Cumbria will be heard at the High Court in October, it has been confirmed

Water

Ofwat flags data failures in water companies’ draft drought resilience plans

Leighton Reservoir in North Yorkshire. Source - GettyImages, Anne Coatesy

Ofwat has expressed concerns about the 'level of detail and accuracy' in the data water companies have submitted for their emerging plans for safeguarding water supply, an ENDS analysis has revealed

Air

High Court allows further grounds for challenge against London ULEZ

The Royal Courts of Justice (cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robert Lamb - geograph.org.uk/p/5117531)

The five councils challenging the mayor of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone in the courts have succeeded in adding a further two grounds to their case against the scheme