United Kingdom: Environmental Law

The UK Government has published its interim response to consultations on minimum energy efficiency standards for commercial properties, establishing that buildings over 1,000 square metres must achieve an EPC rating of B by 2031.

The European Parliament has approved new regulations for gene-edited crops, establishing a two-tier framework that distinguishes between plants equivalent to conventional breeding and those requiring full GMO oversight. The legislation preserves patent protection while introducing transparency measures and public databases to track NGT-derived varieties across the European Union.

On 12 May 2026, we hosted a webinar in collaboration with Eco Intelligent Growth on Circular Economy: From Regulation to Real Business Value, exploring how circular principles...

The Court of Appeal has refused an extension of time to appeal the Luton Airport DCO judicial review, marking the first enforcement of the Government's new shorter appeal deadlines for NSIP challenges.

The European Commission's ambitious plan to simplify environmental product regulations is actually transforming them into a more digital, interconnected, and enforceable framework that could significantly impact investment decisions.

The UK's ambitious Clean Power 2030 strategy and Great Grid Upgrade face a critical planning challenge that threatens to derail progress. As National Grid races to build new transmission lines for renewable energy, local authorities continue granting planning permissions for developments directly on proposed cable routes, forcing costly redesigns and delays.

PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are facing increased regulatory scrutiny and litigation worldwide as concerns mount over their environmental and health impacts. This analysis examines the evolving legal landscape surrounding these persistent synthetic substances, from product liability claims and greenwashing allegations to emerging regulatory frameworks in the EU and UK. What strategic considerations should businesses with PFAS exposure prioritize to navigate this complex risk environment?

Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance driven by AI's exponential growth and the urgent need for stable, low-carbon power. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging...

Nature-related risk has evolved from a specialist environmental concern into a mainstream organisational priority affecting governance, legal compliance, and long-term value.