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12th October 2026

Management and Compliance Bulletin - 12th October 2026

Megan Rushton
Read time 16 minutes

Your monthly update on legislation, guidance, interesting news articles, and webinars from the environmental sector.

Upcoming Legislation

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 update Phase 4 of the existing ESOS framework established under the Energy Act 2023, came into effect on 22 July 2026. Amendments include the revision of definitions, modified compliance mechanisms, and adjusted exclusions for certain activities.

The amendments include:

  • a requirement for participants to submit a notification of compliance by 5 December 2027, and an additional annual progress update,
  • green deal assessments and display energy certificates are no longer to be used for Phase 4 compliance,
  • reduced ESOS obligations for participants that comply solely through the ISO 50001 certification route. If certification covers their total or significant energy consumption, as applicable, they are no longer required to produce an ESOS report or appoint a lead assessor.

These updates aim to improve the accountability and engagement of ESOS participants, ensuring they are actively working to reduce their energy consumption and achieve energy efficiency.

This legislation will apply across the UK.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace

Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 will amend the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 will now come into force on 30 April 2028, rather than on 31 October 2026 as previously planned.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) may continue to be issued under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 until 30 April 2028 because of the delay.

Existing EPCs under the older format may be used until 30 April 2029, following the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 coming into force.

Public buildings that hold pre-existing display EPCs issued under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 can be used until 30 April 2033, where they remain valid.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 will be amended to facilitate an increased lodgement fee, following the registration of an EPC and associated recommendations report. The lodgement fee will increase to £6.00 from £2.60 for domestic properties and to £15.50 from £12.10 for other, non-domestic properties from 30 October 2026.

This legislation will apply only in Scotland.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace

Guidance

Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS)

This guidance is intended for companies intending to import goods from EU and non-EU countries.

IPAFFS must be used to notify authorities in Great Britain before goods arrive.

It applies to:

  • live animals,
  • germinal products,
  • animal by-products (ABP),
  • high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO),
  • products of animal origin (POAO),
  • composite food products,
  • medium and high-risk plants and plant products.

Companies must:

  • assess imported goods against the IPAFFS criteria,
  • register for IPAFFS,
  • create an import notification and upload the appropriate documentation,
  • ensure compliance with the import rules.

The link to this guidance can be found here.

Source: Gov.uk

Shredding Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating Containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 264

This RPS was updated on 21 September 2026 to include a link to ‘Blending waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs: RPS 373’ in the ‘Things to note’ because RPS 373 was published after this RPS was last updated.

The requirement to notify the Environment Agency (EA) if using this RPS was also clarified.

The link to this RPS can be found here.

Source: Gov.uk

Abstraction Outside the Authorised Period for Filling Water Storage Reservoirs: RPS 382

This RPS applies to abstraction licence holders from 1 October to 31 October 2026 inclusive. It allows the abstraction of water outside the authorised abstraction period for the purpose of filling existing water storage reservoirs.

Individuals/organisations must:

  • have an abstraction licence that authorises filling a water storage reservoir for subsequent use in spray irrigation or trickle irrigation,
  • only abstract water for the purpose of filling a water storage reservoir,
  • only abstract water from the 1 October to the 31 October 2026, inclusive,
  • comply with any stated rate and volume of abstraction in your licence – see ‘Maximum quantity of water to be abstracted’, or equivalent, in their licence,
  • comply with any ‘hands off flow’ or ‘hands off level’, or similar restrictions in your licence – see ‘Further conditions’, or equivalent, in your licence,
  • comply with all other conditions of the licence, including the point of abstraction and fish or eel intake screening,
  • record the volume of water abstracted each day when abstraction is taking place,
  • keep these records for a period of six years and make them available to the EA upon request,
  • notify the EA about their intended abstraction using this RPS before starting to abstract – email rpsregistrations@environment-agency.gov.uk and include the abstraction licence number and the name of the licence holder and put ‘RPS 382’ as the email subject.

Individuals/organisations must not:

  • abstract under this RPS if already holding a licence that already authorises abstraction in October or ‘All year’ to fill a storage reservoir – see ‘Period of abstraction’, or equivalent, in the licence,
  • derogate an existing lawful abstraction that is a protected right, whether it is licensed or exempt from licensing – information can be requested on current abstraction and impounding licences by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk,
  • include the amount of water abstracted using this RPS in their annual abstraction return to the EA (if required).

Under this RPS, abstraction must not take place in selected areas which are subject to spray irrigation restrictions under section 57 of the Water Resources Act 1991. See the full list at the RPS link below.

The link to this RPS can be found here.

Source: Gov.uk

Articles

Salmon Numbers in England Hit Lowest Level on Record

New research from the Environment Agency (EA), Cefas and Natural Resources Wales confirms salmon stocks in England are at their lowest level since records began.

The Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2025 highlighted that 95% of principal salmon rivers are now below the level needed to sustain their populations. Historically, 15 to 20 young salmon out of every 100 that migrated to sea would return as adults, now only one or two do.

This problem is observable across the North Atlantic and is not unique to England. In rivers, analysis has shown that the decline in stocks is being driven by water quantity, water quality and damaged habitat.

The EA has committed to tackle all three issues by 2032 as part of its reporting to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO).

The EA has committed to:

  • restore 2,282 hectares of peatland and improve water flow below reservoirs, ensuring rivers have enough water, even during dry spells,
  • closely monitor water companies and other users to ensure they are not taking more water than rivers can sustain,
  • increase the frequency of farm and wastewater treatment works inspections,
  • fund over 800 projects to cut pollution from wastewater,
  • clear or improve 105 barriers blocking salmon from their spawning grounds,
  • restore habitat at 252 sites,
  • plant trees along 648 hectares of riverbank to keep water cool and clean.

Salmon are already returning to the River Trent and River Ouse following efforts led by the EA to improve water quality and remove barriers to migration, demonstrating that recovery is possible where key pressures are mitigated.

Source: GOV.uk

For more details, click here.

Government Unveils Plans to Unlock over 15,000 New Homes

The first plan to help deliver up to 15,780 new homes in Norfolk under the new Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is to be published for consultation by Natural England.

The scheme will allow developers to fund large-scale improvements to rivers and wetland across the county, which are home to species including otters, water voles and wetland birds. This will replace obligations to deliver site-specific nature mitigations required under previous schemes.

The first local blueprint to be published for consultation, known as an Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP), has been designed to tackle pollution in rivers and waterways across Norfolk.

The NRF offers developers a cost-effective way to deliver more effective nature restoration through a simple levy payment. The levy paid by developers will then be used by Natural England to deliver conservation measures at scale, improving water quality and wetlands in Norfolk, including the iconic Norfolk Broads.

The plan will also create new opportunities for Norfolk farmers, landowners, and private organisations to work with Natural England to deliver conservation measures to support nature recovery.

Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain commented:

“The EDP represents a new way to protect nature while also supporting growth. Instead of tackling pollution piecemeal, site by site, we can now deliver conservation measures that make a real difference for rivers, wetlands and wildlife across Norfolk.“

Source: GOV.uk

For more details on the story, click here.

For the consultation, click here.

Enforcement Action

Illegal Waste Site Operator in Sheffield Sentenced

The operator of an illegal waste site in Sheffield has been found guilty of operating a regulated facility without the required environmental permit.

The EA first found a large amount of mixed waste when they visited the site in July 2022. Further visits found waste including fridges, other electrical items and inert waste was accumulating as well as evidence of burning.

The offender was informed it was an offence to store waste without a permit, and he was given six weeks to clear it. Further inspections in early 2023 confirmed the waste had not been cleared and was still accumulating. The EA subsequently served a formal notice requiring the site to be cleared by June 2023, but this was not complied with.

In late 2024 and early 2025, complaints were received about the burning of waste, and the operator was advised by Sheffield City Council to cease burning, which was impacting residents.

The offender received a 39-week suspended prison sentence, 180 hours of unpaid work, a victim surcharge of £187 and a £2,000 contribution towards prosecution costs.

Two co-defendants related to the case were sentenced on 15 April 2026. The landowner was fined £8,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £5,442.  A director of the company was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with 140 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay costs of £5,442 and a victim surcharge of £114.

The site has now been cleared following EA action.

Source: GOV.uk

For the full article, click here.

Water Company Fined Record £900k after Coastline Sewage Spill

A water company has been ordered to pay £964,225 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to five environmental permit offences following a major pollution incident in Lancashire.

Between the 11th and 22nd of June 2023, raw sewage was discharged into the Irish Sea along the Fylde Coast from three coastal pumping stations for more than 35 hours in total over several days.

Sewage was reported on beaches and in marine recreational facilities including Fleetwood baths.

The EA issued ‘no bathing’ advice across eight designated bathing waters along the affected coastline, and sampling carried out during the incident indicated the presence of E. coli.

Three shellfish beds were also temporarily closed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) due to concerns for public health.

A subsequent investigation by the EA found that the incident began following the partial collapse of a final effluent pipe at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works, which reduced the amount of sewage the site could receive and caused sewage to back up through the wider system. Following periods of rainfall, sewage was subsequently discharged from three coastal pumping stations.

The water company’s environmental permits set strict conditions on when sewage could be discharged from the pumping stations. Further investigation into flow and spill data provided by the company found those conditions had not been met when the spills took place.

The company admitted the breaches when interviewed under caution and pleaded guilty to five offences during a court hearing on 22 April 2026.

Andy Brown, Environment Agency’s Water Regulation Manager commented:

“Water companies have a fundamental responsibility to properly manage their assets and comply with the environmental permits designed to protect our rivers, seas and communities. When they fail to do so, we will hold them to account. We will continue to rigorously regulate the water industry, investigate breaches and take action against companies that fail to meet their environmental obligations.”

Source: GOV.uk

For the full article, click here.

£20,000 Fine for Norfolk Illegal Waste Operator

The operator of three illegal waste sites near Harleston has been issued a £20,000 fine and a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after dumping, burying, and burning waste between October 2023 and July 2024.

In addition, the director received a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was charged with two waste offences:

  • Operating a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of waste without an environmental permit.
  • Failure to comply with a notice to remove controlled waste from the site and provide evidence of the lawful removal of controlled waste.

A large quantity of waste was imported, stored, and burned at land known as Withersdale Hall. EA officers first visited the site in October 2023 and found a skip of burning wood, waste dumped in an historic moat, and large piles of waste stored in buildings and skips.

The EA sent a cease-and-desist letter instructing him to cease activities and remove all waste from the site as it didn’t have any environmental permits in place. A return visit in November 2023 confirmed the waste was still present and accumulating.

The director was invited to a voluntary interview under caution. Following no reply, a revisit to the site confirmed the waste was still there. The EA issued a warning of potential legal action, but further visits demonstrated little effort had been made to clear the site.

Lesley Robertson, enforcement team leader at the EA in Norfolk, commented:

“Where we find evidence of illegal activity, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action; the suspended sentence and CBO show how seriously the court views waste crime”.

Source: GOV.uk

For the full article, click here.

Consultation

Renewable Electricity Generation Bill

This consultation asks for views on a proposed law to support new renewable electricity projects in Northern Ireland.

The Bill would create a scheme that provides long-term contracts for renewable energy generators, providing them with improved financial stability. The aim is to encourage investment in renewable electricity and help reduce the impact of changing energy prices.

Feedback will help the Committee for the Economy review the Bill and make recommendations before it moves through the Assembly.

The consultation closes at 11:59am on 21 October 2026.

The link to the consultation can be found here.

UK Government: Consultation on Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate Review

The UK Government is reviewing the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate to understand if it is encouraging more individuals and organisations to move to electric vehicles while supporting the car industry and reducing overall emissions. The consultation focuses primarily on current sales targets, the rules for manufacturers, and is open to potential changes ahead of a wider review in 2027.

A key area of focus is considering options for ending the sale of new petrol and diesel-only cars by 2030.

The consultation closes at 11:59am on 23 October 2026.

The link to the consultation can be found here.

Cura Terrae Services

Management and Compliance Services

Cura Terrae offers the expertise and guidance needed to navigate the ever-evolving regulations and growing expectations for environmental responsibility. We can support you in navigating these challenges effectively.

From initial assessments to ongoing compliance monitoring, our multidisciplinary team delivers practical, actionable advice tailored to your unique requirements. Whether addressing specific operational environmental requirements, ensuring adherence to environmental laws, or supporting strategic sustainability goals, we provide the tools and insights to help your organisation operate responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably.

Our holistic approach integrates compliance and environmental stewardship into your operations, empowering you to reduce risks, improve operational performance, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainable practices.

Our services and support will allow you to focus on your core business activities while we handle the finer details of environmental compliance.

For further information, click here.

Our independent Trade Effluent Performance Audit provides an objective review of your trade effluent management, helping you to improve operational performance, identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs and ensure your site is well prepared for the future.

Get in touch to discuss how a Trade Effluent Performance Audit can support your business. Contact Rebecca Chapman (rebecca.chapman@cura-terrae.com).

Events

Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) Connect 2026 (Digital event)

14th and 15th of October 2026.

ISEP Connect is the conference for anyone wanting to deliver change for a sustainable future.

Attendees can expect to:

  • hear from leading sustainability and environmental experts as they share the latest trends, innovations, and strategies shaping the future of the profession,
  • expand their professional network by connecting with sustainability leaders, environmental professionals, and like-minded peers globally.

For ISEP members, register here.

For non-members, register here.

Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), Sustainable Drainage, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Landscaping (Webinar)

18 November 2026, 12:00 – 1:00pm. Free to attend.

Key topics:

  • Designing sustainable drainage to maximise biodiversity and landscape benefits.
  • The implications of recent updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and BNG regulations.
  • Watercourse units for BNG and ways to improve BNG scores.
  • Integration of BNG and hydrology into landscape design.

Hear from Helena Preston (Associate Hydrologist, SLR Consulting), Lucy Murray (Associate Ecologist and Public Sector lead for Ecology) and Matt Jones (Principal Landscape Architect).

Book your place to attend here.

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