News
Planning, development and environmental consultancy updates.
Read practical EnviroSolution articles covering planning conditions, contaminated land, coal mining risk, drainage, asbestos, ecology, energy assessment and other technical topics affecting UK development projects.
PFOS pilot findings sharpen scrutiny of Thames Water’s Teddington drought scheme
Pilot testing for Thames Water’s proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction has identified rapid PFOS breakthrough in a carbon-treatment process, raising important design, permitting and monitoring questions ahead of a planned development consent application in early 2027.
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Environment Agency sets 2026 reservoir safety research agenda around climate resilience, monitoring and AI
The Environment Agency has published its Reservoir Safety Research Strategy 2026, identifying the evidence gaps likely to influence future reservoir regulation, engineering practice and asset management. The strategy is not new law, but it gives owners, engineers and developers a clear view of the technical issues expected to shape the sector.
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Environment Agency issues Cory Decarbonisation Project emissions permit for Belvedere carbon capture plant
The Environment Agency has issued an Industrial Emissions Directive permit for Cory Environmental Holdings Limited’s carbon capture project in Belvedere. The decision enables the regulated operation of the proposed facility, subject to detailed pre-commissioning, monitoring, reporting and improvement conditions.
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UK ETS waste expansion delayed beyond 2028: what EfW operators and councils should do now
The UK ETS Authority has confirmed that waste incineration and energy-from-waste facilities will not enter the full UK Emissions Trading Scheme in 2028 as previously planned. Voluntary emissions monitoring remains available, but the future compliance timetable and final rules are still to be published.
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Environment Agency releases new river and sea flood-depth data for planning and risk assessments
New banded flood-depth datasets for river and sea flooding are now available through the Defra Data Services Platform, giving flood-risk professionals a further national evidence source for site screening, design development and planning submissions in England.
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Government Steps Up Waste Crime Enforcement: What Construction and Remediation Projects Should Check
The government and Environment Agency are increasing action against illegal waste sites and persistent poor performers. Here is why waste classification and duty-of-care checks matter to legitimate projects too.
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Approved Document L 2026 and SAP 10.3: What Developers Need to Prepare for Before March 2027
Approved Document L 2026 takes effect for most building work in England from 24 March 2027. We look at SAP 10.3, transition dates and why early energy modelling matters now.
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HSE Keeps Great Britain’s Asbestos Control Limit at 0.1 f/ml: What It Means in Practice
HSE has confirmed that Great Britain’s asbestos control limit will remain at 0.1 f/ml. We explain what the decision changes — and what it does not change — for surveys, dutyholders and refurbishment work.
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Digital Waste Tracking Becomes Mandatory in October 2026: What Businesses Need to Know
From 1 October 2026, permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales must report waste receipts digitally. Here is what changes and what does not.
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New NPPF 2026: What It Means for Environmental Reports, Brownfield Sites and Planning
The new National Planning Policy Framework took effect for decision-making on 17 August 2026. We look at what it means for brownfield development, contamination, mining risk and environmental evidence.
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Michael Sheen’s BBC Investigation Puts Historic PCB Contamination Back in Focus
The BBC documentary Buried with Michael Sheen has renewed scrutiny of historic PCB disposal in Wales. We look at what the story means for contaminated-land risk assessment, due diligence and brownfield development.
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BNG Rules Changed in August 2026: What Developers Need to Know
New biodiversity net gain exemptions took effect on 6 August 2026. Here is what the 0.2-hectare threshold, temporary-development exemption and self-build changes mean in practice.
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