Legislative Changes April 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations amend the Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Regulations 2024 (the 2024 Regulations). The 2024 Regulations entitle eligible energy-intensive businesses to electricity support payments in respect of network charging costs and set out how such payments are to be funded (through a levy on electricity suppliers). The legislation will increase the level of compensation offered through the Network Charging Compensation (NCC) Scheme from 60% to 90% from 1st April 2026. It will also extend the length of the NCC Scheme’s application window from one month to two months. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations make amendments to the legislation which provides for the auctioning of emissions allowances to emit 1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the UK ETS) and associated mechanisms to support market stability. This instrument will update the Auction Reserve Price (ARP), which is the minimum price at which emission allowances can be sold at auction. It will uplift the ARP from £22 to £28 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent from 8 April 2026. This is designed to address price erosion of the ARP, in real terms, since the UK ETS was introduced in 2021. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations 2022, to encourage further uptake of the scheme and increase flexibility, whilst ensuring the scheme continues to meet its objectives. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Contracts for Difference (Allocation) Regulations 2014 (Allocation Regulations), the Electricity Market Reform (General) Regulations 2014 (EMR Regulations) and the Contracts for Difference (Standard Terms) Regulations (Standard Terms Regulations). The Clean Industry Bonus (CIB), formerly known as the ‘Sustainable Industry Rewards’, was introduced into the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, the UK’s main renewable energy support scheme, in 2024. The CIB currently provides extra CfD revenue support to offshore wind developers who invest in supply chains in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner supply chains. Developers submit bids identifying which supplier they may invest in, and the scheme assesses the value for money of doing through a competitive allocation of funding. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations change the index used to make inflationary adjustments to the Renewables Obligation (RO) buy-out price from Retail Price Index (RPI) to Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 01 April 2026 in order to generate savings in the energy system. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations make changes to the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 (the 2001 Regulations) as they apply in Great Britain. The instrument inserts a new Schedule 6A into the 2001 Regulations. Schedule 6A contains updated noise emission measuring methods by which airborne noise emitted by equipment in-scope of the 2001 Regulations is measured. In addition, the changes remove regulation 12 of the 2001 Regulations, to reduce the reporting requirements for the responsible person, so that they no longer need to provide the Secretary of State with a copy of their declaration of conformity. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023. The Regulations will amend the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023 so that small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE), not just ‘unsold’ as currently, must be presented separately for collection. The effects of these Regulations are that non-domestic premises must present sWEEE for collection separately; that those collecting the specified recyclable materials from non-domestic premises collect them separately from other recyclable materials and residual waste, and that those separately collected recyclable materials are kept separate and not mixed. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations prescribe the standard rate, lower rate and unauthorised disposals rate for landfill disposals tax chargeable on taxable disposals (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017) made on or after 1 April 2026. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Scottish Landfill Tax (Administration) Regulations 2015, so that entitlement to credit in respect of qualifying contributions by registered persons, as defined in Part 7 of those regulations, ceases from 1 April 2026. This instrument will remove the entitlement to credit on qualifying contributions made to an approved body under the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF) scheme. The removal of credit will cease new contributions to the SLCF from 01 April 2026. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations provide for the annual increase in Scottish Landfill Tax rates. It specifies the standard rate and lower rate for disposals on or after 01 April 2026. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) Regulations 2009 (the 2009 Regulations) and the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (the 2015 Order). These Regulations provide for all appeals submitted under section 78(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (the 1990 Act) in relation to a decision on a planning application to be determined through the expedited written representations planning appeal procedure. The expedited written representations appeal procedure currently only applies to certain section 78(1) appeals, namely those against the refusal of householder development, advertisement consent and some minor commercial development. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations introduce a new permitted development right for reverse vending machines, allowing the installation of reverse vending machines in the wall of, or within the curtilage of, a shop without the need to submit a planning application. This Order also makes several minor consequential and clarifying amendments to existing permitted development rights (PDRS) and the duty to respond to consultations on PDRs. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 and introduce further modifications to Part 2 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (the Act) (as amended by section 97 of, and Schedule 7 to, the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023). The new modifications introduced by these regulations relate to provisions in the Act relating to the revocation of minerals and waste plans (including joint minerals and waste plan documents) and the application of Part 2 of the Act (as amended) in relation to joint minerals and waste plan documents. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (the Fees for Appeals Regulations) and the Town and Country Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2015, in order to implement an inflation-linked increase to fees payable to Scottish Ministers for certain planning appeals, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPIH) Annual Rate for 2025 of 3.9%. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (the Fees Regulations) and the Town and Country Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2015, in order to implement an inflation-linked increase to the fees for which a planning authority can charge for the submission of a planning, and similar, applications. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Building (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2004. The aim of this policy is to increase building warrant verification fees from the 01 April 2026, as part of year 3 of a three-year model to increase fees annually, allowing for an inflation uplift and dependent on monitoring and reporting. This will support changes being introduced to strengthen the building standards system through the work of the Building Standards Futures Board Programme. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the 2004 Regulations), to lay regulations delivering planned changes to building regulations. These changes extend the scope of the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in traditional buildings converted to hotel use, extend the ban of combustible external wall cladding systems to include hotels, guest houses, hostels and boarding houses, and extend the list of exemptions to Regulation 8(4). Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend Part 34 (Shops, financial and professional services establishments) of the Schedule to the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (GPDO) by introducing a new Class E (Reverse Vending Machines) to allow for the installation, alteration or replacement of a reverse vending machine (RVM) in a wall of a shop or within the curtilage of a shop, subject to certain limitations and conditions. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply  

These Regulations amend the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016, which make provision for the conservation of salmon in Scotland. Regulation 2 amends the 2016 Regulations by substituting schedule 2 of the 2016 Regulations. The purpose of the current Regulations is to amend the 2016 Regulations to reflect the most recent stock assessment for the 2026 salmon fishing season. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amends the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the Habitats Regulations) as they apply to offshore wind activity in the Scottish inshore region (0-12 nautical miles (nm) to enable greater flexibility in the approach to environmental compensation for offshore wind. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Wales) Order 2011. The 2011 Order specifies licensable marine activities in respect of which a marine licence under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 is not required. These amendments apply in relation to any area, and any licensable marine activity carried on in that area, for which the Welsh Ministers are the licensing authority. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend several European Union (EU) Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulations, which required operators of ships in scope to monitor and report their emissions data, following the UK’s exit from the EU. A new reporting system has been established by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to meet the MRV requirements of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and associated MRV regulations were laid on 13 January 2026. As a result, revocation of the MRV Instruments will eliminate the potential for industry confusion, duplication and potential additional compliance costs. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 (the 2022 Regulations) to implement an amendment to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 20041 (the Convention) relating to the approval of electronic record book software before its use on ships. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

HEALTH & SAFETY LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations amend assimilated regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) which regulates chemicals in Great Britain (GB). UK REACH is the assimilated version of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EUR 2006/1907) (EU REACH). EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. The amendment to UK REACH made by this legislation adds further restrictions on the use and placing on the market of lead and its compounds to entry 63 of Annex 17. The restriction prohibits the placing on the market and use of shot containing lead in a concentration equal to or greater than 1% by weight, after a 3-year transition period. There is an exception allowing elite athletes to train with lead shot for the Olympic or Paralympic games. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations seek to support the fire safety of ‘relevant residents’ of specified residential buildings. These are residents whose only or principal residence is the domestic premises in which they reside, and whose ability to evacuate the building without assistance in the event of a fire is compromised as a result of a cognitive or physical impairment or condition. The Instrument applies to high-rise residential buildings (these are residential buildings that are at least 18 metres above ground level or have at least seven storeys) and residential buildings over 11 metres in height that have simultaneous evacuation strategies in place. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend the legislation setting out the fees charged by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in relation to the regulation of medical devices. It replaces the provision for a one-off medical device registration fee with a provision for an annual medical device registration fee. The new annual registration fee helps ensure that the MHRA can recover the costs of delivering its post-market surveillance of medical devices on the United Kingdom (UK) market. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations amend The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application Outside Great Britain) Order 2013 (AOGBO). AOGBO extends the application of specified health and safety regulations to specified activities when they take place offshore. This instrument varies the AOGBO to extends the specified health and safety regulations to offshore hydrogen production. Offshore hydrogen production covers a variety of technologies that can be utilised to produce hydrogen at offshore installations with either very low or zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), as defined by the UK Government’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations make miscellaneous amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 in order to implement certain amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention. This Instrument also revokes assimilated law in a number of other merchant shipping instruments to omit United Kingdom government ships from their scope. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply

These Regulations revoke and replace the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012. It updates and modernises the United Kingdom (UK) framework for marine accident investigation to ensure it remains effective, internationally compliant, and reflects learning from operational experience. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply