Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Environment definition

What does Environment mean? In legal practice, environment refers to the natural media and the living systems potentially affected by a project, operation or emission. UK environmental legislation commonly defines it as including air, water and land, and any living organisms (including humans) and ecosystems supported by those media. Similar formulations are used across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in Irish environmental legislation; exact wording varies by statute and context, but usage is broadly consistent. Where a regime provides a definition, courts apply that text; where it does not, the term carries its ordinary meaning. The concept sets the scope of regulatory...

Flood risk activities under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016: scope, exclusions and exemptions, standard/bespoke permits, compliance and enforcement (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

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History of flood defence consents

The previous flood defence consent regime, in place until 6 April 2016—the commencement date of the environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/475—governed activities on or close to a main watercourse or sea defence by reference to Part IV of the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA 1991), regional byelaws, and the Highways Act 1980 (HiA 1980). Consent was needed to ensure proposed works did not raise flood risk, impair flood defences, or adversely affect the environment, fisheries, or wildlife. A defence applied where works were carried out in an emergency, and there was also an exception to the need for flood defence consent where the works comprised a licensable marine activity and specified circumstances prevailed. The prior framework was widely regarded as unduly complicated and burdensome. For background on the earlier flood defence consent system, see Practice Note: Flood defence consents [Archived]. From 1 January 2017, the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR 2016), SI 2016/1154 took effect. EPR 2016 consolidated, and revoked, the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (EPR 2010), SI 2010/675, which had been amended many times. EPR 2016 now forms the principal legislation in this...

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Michael Barlow

Burges Salmon

Michael leads the environment team and the cross-firm water sector team. Michael covers contentious and non-contentious business for a range of clients from a variety of sectors. He has substantial experience of running cases in criminal courts, tribunals and civil courts to the Supreme Court as well as other methods of dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation. On the non-contentious side, Michael has particular expertise in energy efficiency, contaminated land and environmental permitting but has advised on a broad range of topics over the last 15 years. Michael is a former editor of the Environmental Law Review, regularly lectures on environmental law and contributes articles to environmental journals. ...

Simon Tilling

Environmental Lawyer, Partner, Burges Salmon

• I am an environmental lawyer with a background in both science and law. I advise on all aspects of UK environmental law and regulation and I am dual-qualified to practise in England and Wales and Scotland. I advise on operational compliance, regulatory investigations, enforcement and criminal defence, regulatory appeals, tribunal hearings, judicial review and environmental civil claims.• In January 2026 I rejoined the partnership at Burges Salmon (having been a partner at the firm between 2016 and 2021), to continue my environmental law practice with a particular specialism in water law and chemicals regulation.• Between 2023 and 2026 I built and led a new in-house environmental law team within Pennon Group plc in support of its water and waste-water businesses.• I have also been a partner in Washington D.C. headquartered Steptoe & Johnson working from both Brussels and London on UK and EU...

Michael Bowes

6 Pump Court

Dr Michael Bowes has extensive experience in law including: Infrastructure, Energy, Planning, Environmental, Commercial and Competition. In addition, he has considerable experience in Water Law and is recognised as an industry expert. He provides advice to the top level of those in Law and Industry.He currently works at 6 Pump Court Chambers as a barrister. Michael joined Chambers from a long and successful career in private practice. He qualified as a solicitor in 2007. During the previous decade, he worked with Eversheds Sutherland LLP and BCLP LLP as a senior regulatory specialist. He led teams in Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects to include Development Consent Orders and Transport Works Act Orders. Previous to this, he worked as a lawyer with international organisations (The United Nations, The Council of Europe) and private organisations (fund management, private enterprise, private practice). He has also taught...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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