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Policy Paper Published 2 Mar 2026 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs ↗ View on GOV.UK

Government response to OEP recommendations in its review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England

The government's response to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) report on its Review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England.

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On 4 December 2025 the Office of Environmental Protection published a report ‘Review of Implementation of Laws for Terrestrial and Freshwater Protected Sites in England’. The report makes 15 recommendations, primarily for Defra and Natural England.

The Government response to the report laid in Parliament on 2 March 2026 provides a response to the recommendations along the themes of:

  • governance
  • resources
  • designation
  • monitoring
  • evaluation and reporting
  • land management incentives and advice
  • regulatory tools and enforcement