Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Environment agency definition

What does Environment agency mean? In practice, “environment agency” refers to the public environmental regulator for a jurisdiction: the body that issues environmental permits, regulates pollution and waste, manages water resources, undertakes enforcement (including prosecutions and civil sanctions), and acts as a statutory consultee on planning and major infrastructure consents. In England, this is the Environment Agency, an executive non‑departmental public body sponsored by Defra, created by the Environment Act 1995. Its principal aim is to protect or enhance the environment, taken as a whole, and to contribute to sustainable development (s 4). It also leads on flood and coastal erosion risk management....

Internal drainage boards in England and Wales: legal framework, powers, duties, enforcement and funding under the Land Drainage Act 1991 (as amended by the Environment Act 2021)

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

Overview of Land Drainage Act 1991

The Land Drainage Act 1991 (LDA 1991) forms part of the broader statutory regime for overseeing water resources and flood risk in England and Wales, alongside the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Water Industry Act 1991. This framework was significantly reshaped by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. See Practice Note: Flooding—UK policy and legislative framework. Part 5 of the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021) amended the LDA 1991 to strengthen water management in England and Wales. Amendments made by EA 2021 permit the incorporation of internal drainage boards (IDBs) as described below. The LDA 1991 also brings together provisions on the powers, functions and duties of IDBs. For more on the LDA 1991, see Practice Note: Land Drainage Act 1991—snapshot.

Purpose of IDBs

IDBs are independent statutory public bodies established under the LDA 1991 to manage water levels within designated areas—internal drainage districts—where drainage is particularly required. They carry out works to lessen flood risk to people and property, and regulate water levels for agricultural, amenity and environmental purposes. IDBs form part of a wider network of drainage bodies including the...

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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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