Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
Hampshire nature scheme receives £160k funding support
31/07/2026 Hampshire County Council has bagged over £150k in funding to deliver a nature recovery project. |
Council backs further biodiversity action
22/06/2026 Bradford Council has confirmed its aims to boost its biodiversity and conservation efforts. |
Council boosts biodiversity in country parks with new bug hotels
03/06/2026 Wrexham Council has announced the rollout of new habitat installations to help combat insect decline in the borough. |
Councils target air pollution hotspots to protect rare heathlands
21/05/2026 Dorset Council and BCP Council have completed a major air quality monitoring project to help protect the county's heathland habitats from traffic pollution. |
Nature recovery strategy launched for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
27/04/2026 A landmark plan to restore wildlife and habitats across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin has been published. |
Liverpool City Region launches plan to reverse wildlife decline
20/03/2026 Steve Rotheram has launched the Liverpool City Region’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy, setting out a plan to reverse decades of environmental decline. |
Wakefield Council expands protections to safeguard district’s heritage
20/02/2026 Wakefield Council has strengthened heritage protections across the district with the approval of two new conservation areas and boundary updates. |
Gloucestershire CC supports nature recovery with new local strategy
18/02/2026 Gloucestershire County Council has produced a strategy to promote nature recovery and enhance biodiversity across the region. |
Council advances legal proceedings due to ‘reckless’ tree felling
22/01/2026 Enfield Council has started forfeiture proceedings against Mitchells & Butlers following the company’s partial felling of an ancient oak tree. |
Bradford Council wins international recognition for nature reserve
09/01/2026 A nature reserve managed by Bradford Council has been highlighted in a ‘seven wonders of the world’ list for 2026. |
West Midlands mayor unveils nature recovery strategy
27/11/2025 A new plan to protect and enhance green spaces, waterways and wildlife across the West Midlands has been published by Mayor Richard Parker. |
Greater Manchester launches North’s first nature recovery strategy
04/09/2025 Greater Manchester has launched the first Local Nature Recovery Strategy in the North, aiming to reverse decades of wildlife decline and improve green spaces. |
Council forgoes lake ownership following algae issues
21/07/2025 A council has handed over its lease on a lake after ‘toxic blue-green algae’ is found in the water. |
Councils benefit from £15m boost for nature schemes
18/07/2025 Councils are to receive £15m funding to enrich green areas in towns and cities. |
Council issues order to protect remains of ancient oak
16/04/2025 Enfield Council has issued an emergency preservation order to protect what remains of a 500-year-old oak tree that was partially felled by a pub chain. |
Councils urged to take action on nature recovery
05/03/2025 As few as one in 10 councils have a plan for nature recovery despite the UK being one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, Woodland Trust says. |
Biodiversity Net Gain ‘failing to deliver’
06/02/2025 A lack of ambition on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has left the scheme failing to deliver, according to new research. |
Council gives away 30,000 trees in a day
02/12/2024 Leicestershire County Council gave away 30,400 trees in a day last week as part of plans to boost planting. |
Councils get £47m for new homes stalled by nutrient neutrality rules
07/11/2024 Seven areas in England will benefit from a share of £45m to ‘unblock’ new housing developments that have been stalled by rules on nutrient neutrality. |
Lincolnshire residents warned not to disturb seals
07/11/2024 North East Lincolnshire Council has urged residents not to approach seals on the beach over the coming weeks. |
Yorkshire Wolds proposed as new outstanding beauty spot
09/10/2024 Plans have been put forward to designate part of the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). |
Council buys land to plant 25,000 trees
06/08/2024 A Devon council has bought 65 acres of land to develop a ‘community woodland’. |
Council faces legal challenge over poultry unit
15/07/2024 A legal challenge has been launched over Shropshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a major intensive poultry unit. |
Work on Brighton rainscape gets under way
28/06/2024 Preparation work for a rainscape wetland area at a nature reserve near Brighton got under way this week. |
Bid to tackle UK’s second most polluted river
19/06/2024 Councillors in Calderdale will devise a plan to clean up the UK’s second most polluted waterway. |
Survey reveals support for biodiversity scheme
10/01/2024 Most people in Britain support an upcoming requirement for developers to invest in improving local habitats, a survey has revealed. |
Climate change ‘biggest threat’ to heritage
20/11/2023 The future of the coastline, countryside and historic buildings protected by the National Trust will be threatened by extreme weather without urgent and large-scale action, a report has found. |
Country park renamed in honour of late Queen
02/10/2023 A Lincolnshire country park has been renamed The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park as a mark of respect for the late monarch. |
