December 22, 2025  

It has been a busy few weeks for legislation and policy affecting reptiles and amphibians. Here are the key points.

The Government has now concluded the 7th Quinquennial Review of species protected under Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. JNCC had advised a range of changes to levels of protection for species, including an increase in protection for the adder. However, Government has now confirmed that it will not implement any of the changes in England. From a reptile and amphibian perspective, we are relieved that Government has not agreed with the calls for reducing protection, made by some during the consultation process. It is good that generally the levels of protection have been retained, though disappointing that there will not be enhanced protection for the adder. We await announcements for Wales and Scotland.

More information: https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/qqr-7/ and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-jncc-review-of-protected-species-under-the-wildlife-and-countryside-act-1981

 

After a meticulous review, the Office for Environmental Protection released a report on protected sites in England, revealing serious shortcomings. ARC contributed to this review, and we look forward to Government responding to the excellent recommendations. A stronger series of protected sites, including better management and monitoring of existing sites, would be a major step forward for reptiles and amphibians in England. We hope there will be similar reviews in other countries.

More information: https://www.theoep.org.uk/report/review-implementation-laws-terrestrial-and-freshwater-protected-sites-england

 

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill received Royal Assent, following months of debate. Amongst other things, this legislation will generate an alternative route for addressing impacts on the environment in England. Developers will be able to pay into a Nature Restoration Fund, which will allow Natural England to create and deliver Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs). These will, Government hopes, be a more efficient way of allowing growth whilst also bringing gains for nature. Original plans for EDPs to cover protected species were forestalled, but it seems likely that great crested newt will be the first species-focused EDP. The consensus in the nature conservation and ecological consultancy sectors appears to be that the new legislation will do little to help nature or ease pressures in the planning regime, and may actually make things worse. Much will depend on the implementation detail emerging in the coming months.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-planning-and-infrastructure-bill-becomes-law

 

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has generally been welcomed as a way to ensure that development contributes to nature recovery in England, despite some problems with implementation. After consultation, Government has now decided to exempt developments up to 0.2 hectares from BNG requirements. This is disappointing, as it will mean many developments will now not have to make a contribution to recovery, and the underlying business model for BNG will be weakened. In addition, Government has indicated changes to how brownfield sites (i.e. areas previously developed) are treated, which could be a particular concern for reptiles and amphibians. The BNG exemption announcement was made in the context of Government’s plans on meeting housing targets.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-sec-pledges-to-go-further-than-ever-before-to-hit-15-million-homes

 

After a long delay, Government published its revised Environmental Improvement Plan. The revised Plan is a better than its 2023 predecessor in some respects, and if well implemented, it could bring some useful gains for the conservation of reptiles and amphibians. However, we would like to have seen firmer and more ambitious commitments to addressing the root causes of species declines. In several places, the EIP sets a slower pace of action than we think is warranted, and with lower financial commitments, notably in protected sites and farming. Whilst the EIP makes helpful general statements on Government’s ambition on nature, there is a risk that the rhetoric around species being a blocker to growth will undermine that intent. In addition, we note that Natural England’s new strategy, announced in November, signals more of a focus on the growth agenda. We hope that Government and its agencies will find the space and resources to recover nature for its own sake too.

 

More information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-improvement-plan-2025