In his Autumn Statement last week, the Chancellor George Osborne set out his views on how to improve the economy and tackle the debt crisis. Amongst other matters, he included a few comments in relation to UK environmental legislation that have not gone down well with conservation bodies such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.

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Baker Consultants is hosting a seminar at DLA Piper Manchester on Wednesday 28th September.

The seminar addresses ecological constraints to development and how to overcome the legal hurdles. If you are a planner, planning consultant, developer or ecologist, whether for a commercial organisation or local authority, you are welcome to attend.

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Are you a planner? Do you fully understand your legal obligations regarding protected species legislation?

You are invited to attend a half-day training seminar on Wednesday 18th May in Sheffield, run by Environmental lawyer Penny Simpson.

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There have been a number of significant updates to UK law recently which may, among other things, impact the ecological evidence required for planning applications. On Thursday 9th December, Baker Consultants is hosting a training seminar with environmental lawyer Penny Simpson of DLA Piper, specially designed for ecologists working in England. more

The Baker Consultants team is currently reviewing the Department for Communities and Local Government consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement. It is proposed that this new PPS will replace PPS9 on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. more

Nature conservation law is under continuous review and further changes have been announced that are proposed to come into force on April 1st 2010. more

In June last year the Woolley case (Woolley,R vs Cheshire East Borough Council) clarified the role that Local Planning Authorities must take when considering planning applications that may affect European Protected Species (EPS). more

There is a need for the industry to work closely with Natural England to make sure that their systems are fit for purpose, can be easily implemented and achieve the aims of the legislation – which is to protect those rare and vulnerable species, the law may be complex but it does not mean that the systems which implement the law should add more complexity. more