Natural England
Role
Government’s statutory nature conservation body. Advises government on the natural environment in England. Responsible for SSSI designations and condition, National Nature Reserves, 30by30 implementation, Biodiversity Net Gain, and — under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 — preparing Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and administering the Nature Restoration Fund.
Strategic Direction 2025-26: “Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security” (Chair: Tony Juniper CBE).
Strategies owned / administered
- Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) for Nature Restoration Fund
- Marine Recovery Fund (offshore wind compensation)
- King’s Series National Nature Reserves (25 new over 5 years)
- Biodiversity Net Gain delivery
Outcomes accountable for
- nature-recovery-2030 — Species halt; SSSI condition (50% by 2030); 30by30
- clean-power-2030-outcome — Marine Recovery Fund; OWEIP; EDP for energy infrastructure
Key priorities 2025-26
- Environmental Delivery Plans and Nature Restoration Fund (subject to PIA 2025)
- Regulatory reform — Corry Review (29 recommendations); self-licensing; trusted partner model (pilot: National Trust)
- Farming and ELM — Catchment Sensitive Farming; integration with SFI/CS/LR
- Protected Sites and Species Recovery — 5 more NNRs; King Charles III England Coast Path
- 30by30 — Everyone within 15 minutes of green/blue space; 48 LNRS by end 2025
- Growth and development support — major infrastructure and large housing casework
Key constraints
- Spending Review savings requirements — “right-sizing” and automation underway
- EDP preparation for multiple sectors (housing + energy + transport) simultaneously — capacity risk
- SSSI favourable condition target (50% by 2030) requires significant resources with fewer than 5 years remaining
- Corry Review recommendations: 29 recommendations for regulatory reform — significant change management underway
Tensions
- housing-biodiversity — Natural England must prepare EDPs for housing AND energy simultaneously; capacity constraint not resolved
- clean-power-marine-environment — Marine Recovery Fund design must balance offshore wind delivery against genuine MPA protection