UK plan to build 24,000 homes faces legal challenge – The Guardian

‘A plan to build more than 20,000 homes in rural Oxfordshire, championed by secretary of state for housing Robert Jenrick, is facing a legal challenge from residents who say it is incompatible with the government’s legally binding commitments to tackle the climate emergency.’

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The Guardian, 28th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

The environmental implications of the Brexit deal – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Most UK people’s 2020 Christmas eves were cheered by the news that we had some sort of Brexit deal – here, in all its majesty. Given the deadline for no deal, some deal, however thin, was a good deal better than nothing, with the ill-tempered chaos between the UK and a major trading partner which would have followed from the latter.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

More than 1,000 Extinction Rebellion activists taken to court – The Guardian

‘More than 1,000 people who took part in environmental direct action organised by Extinction Rebellion have been taken to court in what experts say is one of the biggest crackdowns on protest in British legal history.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Local authority secures compliance with High Court injunction to restore plot of land to open countryside – Local Government Lawyer

‘Buckinghamshire Council last month secured compliance with a High Court injunction to restore land to open countryside.’

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Local Government Lawyer, January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barrister broke Supreme Court embargo in “act of civil disobedience” – Litigation Futures

‘A barrister broke the embargo on today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Heathrow airport expansion case “as an act of civil disobedience”.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Top UK court overturns block on Heathrow’s third runway – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2020 in airports, environmental protection, news, planning, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The Supreme Court has overturned a February judgment that a third runway at Heathrow airport was illegal. It means the project can now seek planning permission, but the ultimate completion of the runway remains uncertain.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top UK court overturns block on Heathrow’s third runway – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2020 in airports, appeals, climate change, environmental protection, news, planning, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The Supreme Court has overturned a February judgment that a third runway at Heathrow airport was illegal. It means the project can now seek planning permission, but the ultimate completion of the runway remains uncertain.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Construction company hit by £600,000 fine over damage to bat breeding site – Local Government Lawyer

‘A major house builder has been ordered to pay what is understood to be the largest fine ever issued by a court in relation to a wildlife crime. On 8 December at Woolwich Crown Court, Bellway Homes pleaded guilty to the offence between 17 March 2018 and 17 August 2018 of damaging or destroying a breeding site or resting place for bats.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Work begins on legal definition of ‘ecocide’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 1st, 2020 in environmental protection, international courts, international law, news by sally

“‘A panel of leading lawyers has been set up to draft a legal definition of “ecocide” as a potential international crime that could sit alongside war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th November 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Carbon neutrality and the consistory courts – Law & Religion UK

‘The practical issues of reducing GHG emissions were considered in Re St. Mark Mitcham [2020] ECC Swk5, which concerned the replacement of an existing gas fuelled heating system. Mindful of Synod’s commitment, Chancellor Philip Petchey expressed a hope that those who involved in achieving the carbon reduction targets would find the judgment helpful.’

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Law & Religion UK, 24th November 2020

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Court dismisses challenge to decision granting planning permission for relocation of works at nuclear power station within AONB – No. 5 Chambers

‘The Claimant sought judicial review of the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for replacement facilities in respect of what is known as “Sizewell B” power station, part of the Sizewell power stations in Suffolk, in advance of a decision on whether or not to grant development consent for “Sizewell C”. The site lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB and the Suffolk Heritage Coast. The Sizewell Marshes SSSI lies immediately west and north of the site and within the western boundary lies Coronation Wood. The Claimant was Secretary and member of “Together Against Sizewell C”, a group which held concerns as to the sensitive nature of the environment around Sizewell and the impact of the Sizewell C project.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 8th October 2020

Source: www.no5.com

HS2 may be guilty of ‘wildlife crime’ by felling trees illegally, say lawyers – The Guardian

Posted October 14th, 2020 in animals, environmental protection, news, railways, transport, trees, trespass by sally

‘Lawyers have warned HS2 it might be felling trees illegally, after an ecology report found evidence of one of the UK’s rarest bat species in an area of ancient woodland being cleared for the high-speed rail line.’

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The Guardian, 10th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EP 127: Reintroduction Part 2 – Bats and Beavers – Law Pod UK

Posted October 9th, 2020 in animals, environmental protection, news, podcasts by sally

‘This is the second instalment of our collaboration with the Environmental Law Foundation, who are acting for acting for local residents in the Forest of Dean on a translocation of pine martens from Scotland. We discuss bats, other protected species and relative success of the introduction of beavers to the British Isles.’

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Law Pod UK, 5th October 2020

Source: audioboom.com

Legalise e-scooters in UK as alternative to short car trips, MPs say – The Guardian

‘MPs have called on the government to legalise e-scooters in the UK and advertise them to car drivers as a greener alternative for short journeys.’

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

85 bird crime incidents recorded last year, says RSPB report – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2020 in birds, environmental protection, game laws, news, setting traps by sally

‘There were 85 confirmed incidents of the illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of birds of prey in Britain in 2019, according to the RSPB’s annual Birdcrime report.’

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The Guardian, 1st October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Plastic straw ban in England comes into force – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2020 in environmental protection, news, waste by sally

‘A ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds has come into force in England.’

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BBC News, 1st October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coalition calls for new laws to end sewage discharges into UK waters – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2020 in bills, environmental protection, news, pollution, statistics, waste, water, water companies by sally

‘A coalition of river and sea organisations is calling for targets for water companies to reduce sewage discharges to be included in the upcoming environment bill.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EP 126: The Birds and the Bees – Law Pod UK

Posted September 29th, 2020 in animals, birds, environmental protection, news, podcasts by sally

‘Rosalind English gathers a panel of experts together to discuss the thorny issue of reintroduction of endangered species. This episode is part of a two part series on the subject, organised by the Environmental Law Foundation that promotes access to justice in matters of environmental law.’

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Law Pod UK, 29th September 2020

Source: audioboom.com

New injunction bars protesters from HS2 site in west London – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2020 in demonstrations, environmental protection, injunctions, news, railways, transport by sally

‘HS2 has been granted a new injunction barring environmental protesters from land in west London where work on the high-speed rail link is being carried out.’

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The Guardian, 4th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Campaigners start legal challenge to UK’s $1bn grant to Mozambique gas project – The Guardian

‘Environmentalists at Friends of the Earth will mount a legal challenge against the government’s decision to offer $1bn in financial support to a major fossil fuel project in Mozambique that they say is “incompatible” with the Paris climate agreement.’

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The Guardian, 7th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com