Active Consultations

Natural environment: an invitation to shape the nature of England

Our natural environment underpins our economic prosperity, our health and our wellbeing. As a result, protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity is one of Defra’s top 3 priorities, as outlined in the Department’s Structural Reform Plan.

A key commitment under this priority is the publication of a White Paper on the natural environment by spring 2011. All interested parties are invited to have a say in shaping the development of the White Paper.

You may wish to develop these in response to the discussion document which can be downloaded below, or there may be other issues that you feel the department should focus on.

Discussion Document Summary (0.1MB)

Discussion Document "An invitation to shape the Nature of England" (0.8MB)

Click here for more information about how to respond on Defra's website

All comments should be received by 30th October 2010.

Closed Consultations

Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment

This consultation looked for views on the proposed Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment, which sets out streamlined and consolidated planning policy relating to:

• biodiversity and geological conservation (currently set out in Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9))
• landscape protection, soil and agricultural land quality, and forestry (currently set out in paragraphs 21-23, 28-29 and 33 of Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7))
• coastal access, heritage coast and the undeveloped coast (currently set out in paragraphs 2.9, 2.10 and 3.9 of Planning Policy Guidance 20: Coastal Planning (PPG20))
• open space, sport, recreation and play (currently set out in Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (PPG17))

Proposed policy changes relate only to the strategic provision of green infrastructure and to the floodlighting of sports and recreational facilities.

The deadline for responses was 1st June 2010

Click here for more information on the Communities and Local Government website

Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey

Communities Minister Ian Austin outlined proposals on how the public will have more access to Ordnance Survey mapping data from next year, as part of a Government drive to open up data to improve transparency.

The Prime Minister and Communities Secretary John Denham have previously announced the move to free up data as part of the Smarter Government and 'Making Public Data Public' initiative.

Communities and Local Government launched a consultation on which Ordnance Survey datasets can be made freely available to support digital innovation and democratic accountability.

Visit the Communities and Local Government website to find out more about this consultation

The deadline for consultation responses was 17th March 2010.

Protected Landscape Policy Consultation

Visit Natural England’s website to find out more about Natural England’s Protected Landscape Policy Consultation 

This policy sets out Natural England's draft position on protected landscapes. It sets out Natural England's belief that England's nationally protected landscapes:

• are of intrinsic value and deliver a range of public benefits associated with a healthy and accessible natural environment
• are capable of delivering more for the nation
• that elements of public policy, legislation and guidance that govern protected landscapes urgently require review and clarification so that they can address the challenges of today and maximise their potential within and beyond the designation 
• that the management of Heritage Coasts needs to be reviewed and set in a new context reflecting increased recognition of the importance of the marine and coastal zone

Closing date 5 October 2009
Issued 14 July 2009

Return to Landscape policies page