These Regulations bring into force provisions of the Environment Act 2021 (c. 30) (“the Act”). These are the seventh commencement regulations made by the Secretary of State under the Act.
Regulation 2 brings into force on 3rd November 2023 specified sections of the Act. Section 82 is commenced for the limited purpose of enabling regulations to be made under section 141DB of the Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56). Section 98 and Part 1 of Schedule 14 of the Act are commenced for the limited purposes of enabling regulations to be made under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) and to enable the biodiversity metric (defined in paragraph 4(1) of that Schedule) to be laid before Parliament. Section 100 of the Act is commenced for the limited purpose of making regulations which would make provision for and in relation to a biodiversity gain site register.
Regulation 3 brings into force on 30th November 2023 section 115 of the Act. Section 115 inserts new section 96A into the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66) which places a duty on local highway authorities in England to consult before felling street trees.
Source: HMSO.