Legislative Changes May 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations amend the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the ‘Inshore Regulations’ and ‘Offshore Regulations’ respectively, and together, the ‘Habitats Regulations’). The Regulations will support the pipeline of offshore wind projects to deliver the government’s Clean Power by 2030 mission, while ensuring the protection of the UK’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. The reforms are for offshore wind and associated infrastructure only. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend 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 Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations 2024 which make provision for and in relation to a register of biodiversity gain sites (the biodiversity gain site register). Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requires development to deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value relative to the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat. Developers can deliver some or all of their BNG off-site including through buying offsite biodiversity units. These units must be on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register. 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 

HEALTH & SAFETY LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations revoke and replace the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012 (the 2012 Regulations). 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. The instrument reflects that the UK is no longer bound by European Union (EU) Directive 2009/18/EC (the 2009 EU Directive). It streamlines the legislative framework following EU exit while maintaining continued alignment with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code adopted by the IMO (IMO Code) and the UK’s international safety obligations. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations make changes to three EU regulations that were assimilated into domestic law by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (the REUL Act) following EU Exit. It rectifies a number of issues that could not be addressed at EU Exit due to the nature of the legal powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply