The government plans to equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft for wildfire response, alongside up to £45 million for specialist firefighting teams and equipment.
Staff member · 2 min readThe North Sea Transition Authority has granted fresh development and production consent for the Jackdaw gas field following government consideration of its environmental assessment.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readA ministerial direction published on 19 October instructs the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supplies in specified severe drought areas, while retaining environmental safeguards.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readChancellor John Healey has backed the economic case for a third runway at Heathrow, contrasting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s refusal to endorse the proposal before further decisions.
Staff member · 3 min readEnvironment Agency figures show 403 confirmed drought-related environmental incidents in England so far in 2026, exceeding the full-year totals for 2022 and 2025, with national reservoir storage at 54%.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readAnglian Water has been fined £1.6 million after an Environment Agency prosecution over sewage pollution affecting nearly 14km of the River Brain in Essex.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readSevere drought has been declared in parts of six counties in southern England, prompting daily monitoring, tighter water abstraction checks and contingency planning to safeguard supplies.
Staff member · 2 min readDefra has launched a ten-year Organic Action Plan aiming to raise the share of England’s agricultural land farmed organically from about 3.4% towards 10% by 2036.
Peter Jackson · 2 min readThe Government is broadening its floods taskforce to cover drought, with more than 50 organisations due to meet on 14 October. Funding commitments remain existing allocations.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readThe Environment Agency has declared drought in Yorkshire following months of low rainfall, with rivers and reservoirs depleted despite recent rain.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readSurfers Against Sewage says England’s nine water and sewerage companies reported more than 50,000 discharges late in the first half of 2026. Yorkshire Water disputes the charity’s methodology.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readThe Conservatives have unveiled a sweeping deregulation programme which they claim could cut the cost of a new-build home by up to £50,000, including abolishing the Environment Agency and Natural England as separate bodies.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readThe Liberal Democrats have called for failing water companies to become customer-owned mutuals and for Thames Water to be placed immediately into special administration.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readThe Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has urged the Government to reject Thames Water's creditor rescue proposal and consider special administration or emergency legislation.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readThe Government has unveiled the first Environmental Delivery Plan under its Nature Restoration Fund, which ministers say could support up to 15,780 new homes in Norfolk while funding large-scale river and wetland restoration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe UK intends to invest £400 million in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility through a loan, with the commitment subject to final due diligence and agreement over the fund's governance.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham is considering reforms to the special administration regime that could make it easier for the Government to take failing utilities into public control.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham has reportedly decided not to place Thames Water into special administration immediately amid concerns over taxpayer costs, legal risks and practical difficulties.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readHousing Secretary Angela Rayner has approved a data centre and wider redevelopment around Brick Lane despite demands for a housing-led future for the former Truman Brewery estate.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readThe first 46 of 138 new homes for British armed forces personnel and their families have been completed at Dhekelia Station in Cyprus.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Environment Agency has commenced criminal proceedings against Southern Water and several former employees over alleged conduct involving wastewater monitoring between 2012 and 2017.
Staff member · 1 min read