DEFRA has on 31 March 2026 new rules in relation to waste collections and sorting, including separate collections.
AIR POLLUTION
March 31st, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureA Welsh Government publication on 27 March 2026 summarises consultation responses to its draft plan to PROMOTE AWARENESS IN WALES OF AIR POLLUTION, and sets out the final delivery PLAN for 2025-2028.
CONTAMINATION
March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and Leisure
The British Standards Institution has, on 25 March 2026, published an updated CODE OF PRACTICE for the INVESTIGATION OF LAND POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY CONTAMINATION>
WASTE COLLECTION
March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and Leisure
Pursuant to non-statutory DEFRA GUIDANCE, WASTE COLLECTION AUTHORITIES in England must, from 31 March 2026, provide WEEKLY FOOD WASTE COLLECTIONS from all households.
ROAD NETWORK
March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureA DoT paper sets out 5 YEAR INVESTMENT STRATEGY for the management of the STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK from April 2026 to March 2031.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
March 25th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureA REPORT published on 25 March 2026 by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee warns that the current environmental regulatory system is inadequate. The Report highlights the growing problem of ILLEGAL WASTE DUMPING, which exceeds the Environment Agency’s enforcement capacity.
PROTECTION OF LIVESTOCK
March 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureThe Dogs ( Protection of Lifestock ) ( Amendment ) Act 2025 has come into force on 18 March 2026. It provides FARM ANIMALS in England and Waleswith stronger protection from dog attacks, including on roads and paths.
WALES
March 4th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureThe Senedd has enacted the Environment ( Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets ) ( Wales ) Act. The Act (1) establishes a NEW FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN WALES, (2) Crates a new OFFICE in Wales of ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE, and (3) sets BIODIVERSITY TARGETS.
HIGHWAYS
February 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureBy Section 41 of the HIGHWAYS ACT 1980, a highway authority is generally under a duty to maintain a highway maintainable at public expense. Section 58 however provides a special defence in an action against a highway authority for damages for non-repair of a public highway that the authority had taken such care “ in all the circumstances “ as was “ reasonably required “ to “ secure “ that the part of the highway to which the action relates was “ not dangerous for traffic “. In SAMMUT v KENT COUNTY COUNCIL (2026 ) 2 WLUK 254 Coppel J holds that the authority’s RESOURCES are an IRRELEVANT MATTER.
CLEAN ENERGY
February 10th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureAn official publication addresses PLANS for growing local and community-owned CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS.