UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
29/10/2019
Landmark Environment Legislation Moves Step Closer
A landmark Environment Bill has progressed to the Committee stage following its recent second reading by MPs.
The legislation will look to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time, ensuring the UK maintains and improves its environmental protections as it leaves the EU.
The Bill will build on the UK's strong track record and sets out a comprehensive and world-leading vision to allow future generations to prosper. Environmental principles will be enshrined in law and measures will be introduced to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive.
Legislation will also create legally-binding environmental improvement targets. A new independent Office for Environmental Protection will be established to scrutinise environmental policy and law, investigate complaints and take enforcement action against public authorities, if necessary, to uphold environmental standards.
The office's remit will include all climate change legislation, enabling the office to hold the government to account on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Opening the second reading, Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This Government recognises the profound importance of the great environmental challenges of our time.
"We are the first government to set the goal that this generation should leave the natural environment in a better state than it was bequeathed to us. And this is the first government to make a legally binding commitment to become a net zero carbon economy.
"This is a truly landmark piece of legislation, enshrining environmental principles in law, requiring this government and its successors to demanding and legally binding targets and creating a world-leading environmental watchdog to hold them to account."
Many MPs expressed support for the Bill but raised points about the Office for Environmental Protection's independence and funding, as well as how the targets system will work. Air quality, water and plastics were also discussed.
The Bill will now be scrutinised at the Committee stage before moving onto the next stages of the Parliamentary process for becoming law.
The legislation will look to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time, ensuring the UK maintains and improves its environmental protections as it leaves the EU.
The Bill will build on the UK's strong track record and sets out a comprehensive and world-leading vision to allow future generations to prosper. Environmental principles will be enshrined in law and measures will be introduced to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive.
Legislation will also create legally-binding environmental improvement targets. A new independent Office for Environmental Protection will be established to scrutinise environmental policy and law, investigate complaints and take enforcement action against public authorities, if necessary, to uphold environmental standards.
-- Advertisement --
The office's remit will include all climate change legislation, enabling the office to hold the government to account on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Opening the second reading, Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This Government recognises the profound importance of the great environmental challenges of our time.
"We are the first government to set the goal that this generation should leave the natural environment in a better state than it was bequeathed to us. And this is the first government to make a legally binding commitment to become a net zero carbon economy.
"This is a truly landmark piece of legislation, enshrining environmental principles in law, requiring this government and its successors to demanding and legally binding targets and creating a world-leading environmental watchdog to hold them to account."
Many MPs expressed support for the Bill but raised points about the Office for Environmental Protection's independence and funding, as well as how the targets system will work. Air quality, water and plastics were also discussed.
The Bill will now be scrutinised at the Committee stage before moving onto the next stages of the Parliamentary process for becoming law.
Latest Construction News
05/02/2025
Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) and ECF, a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, have selected Vinci as the preferred contractor for Phase 1 of Stockport 8, a £350 million residential development west of Stockport town centre.
The decision follows a competi
05/02/2025
Vistry Group has finalised contracts for a significant housing development in Hinckley, Leicestershire, securing outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes in the area.
The development, located east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way in the town's northern region, has a projected val
05/02/2025
Wilten Construction has been awarded a second Design and Build contract at Gateway 14 by client Gateway 14 Ltd and Jaynic.
The project involves the development of a state-of-the-art, three-storey Skills and Innovation Centre spanning 35,000 sq ft in the heart of Gateway 14. Designed to achieve BREE
05/02/2025
Knowsley Council has approved a major housing development in Kirkby, giving the green light to 800 new energy-efficient homes in the town's centre.
The decision also secures £7.7 million in Section 106 contributions from developer Barratt David Wilson Homes, further boosting local investment.
The
05/02/2025
Keepmoat Homes has announced plans to invest over £50 million in three new housing developments across Calderdale, aiming to deliver more than 200 new homes.
The developments, undertaken in partnership with Calderdale Council, form part of the North Halifax Transformation Programme, a local authori
05/02/2025
Essential renewal work at Skerne Road level crossing in Driffield has been completed. Over a six-day period, engineers replaced decades-old equipment, installing a state-of-the-art operating system, replacing the level crossing deck, and resurfacing the road.
The newly installed operating system is
05/02/2025
Construction firm GRAHAM is currently carrying out essential restoration work at the National Railway Museum in York, replacing the Grade II listed roof structure at Station Hall.
Originally built between 1875 and 1877 as a goods station, Station Hall now houses the museum’s six royal carriages.
05/02/2025
Mezzanine floors are commonly associated with additional storage or expanded floor space, but did you know they can also have a profound impact on employee productivity and morale? At Doity Engineering, we specialise in designing and installing mezzanine floors for
05/02/2025
Construction work is commencing on a new solar array at Weeton Barracks in Lancashire that will generate over one third of the site’s energy needs.
The work has been funded under the British Army’s Project Prometheus, a scheme that is increasing renewable energy across the army estate through inst
05/02/2025
The regeneration of Hartlepool's waterfront has reached a significant milestone with a £631,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support the development phase of the 'Tides of Change' project, aimed at transforming the visitor experience at the Museum of Hartlepool a
