Michael Donnelly

Last week, the government announced a fresh wave of reforms to the judicial review system. Here’s what we know about the latest proposals.

The illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK is “relentless”, with 921 confirmed incidents recorded in the UK between 2015-2024, according to a report by the RSPB.

The government should axe “parts of the net zero agenda which prioritise clean energy over cheaper energy” and it should launch a “transformative programme for planning reform and deregulation”, former prime minister Tony Blair has said, amidst reports of disagreement in the Cabinet over the future of the North Sea.

A Labour MP has agreed to ask ministers to review the “very permissive” national planning policy on solar farms, following a request by the head of a Reform UK-led council after a 49.9MW solar scheme on 93 hectares of farmland was approved on appeal.

Plans for a 1,400-home development on land immediately next to the High Speed Two (HS2) rail line have finally been granted planning permission seven-and-a-half years after a land promoter submitted the outline planning application for the project, but just two months on from a planning committee decision to resolve to approve it.

A woman could face up to two years in prison after being found in contempt of court over her continued occupation of a home she had illegally built and concealed within a barn.

National Grid has launched an initiative to help it deliver offsite biodiversity “solutions”, including through the purchase of biodiversity net gain (BNG) units, and via the provision of funding for nature restoration projects.

Two county councils that recently fell under the control of Reform UK have revealed plans to roll-back environmental programmes, with one launching an “immediate, council-wide audit of all environmental projects”.

The RSPB has announced plans to make staff redundancies, blaming a range of factors including increases in employer National Insurance contributions, which it says have placed “external pressures” on the charity.

Surrey Police have confirmed its officers are investigating after a building that local campaigners say was home to at least 20 active swift nests was demolished, prompting calls for changes to the law.