Regulator Profile
Natural England
Enforcement Regulator3
Areas of regulation
161
Laws enforced
UK-wide
Environmental
Protected Sites
Wildlife Licensing
What Natural England does
Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, National Nature Reserves, National Parks). Issues environmental permits for activities affecting nature.
Additional information
Scotland: NatureScot. Wales: Natural Resources Wales (NRW) handles nature conservation. Northern Ireland: NIEA.
Legal framework
Legislation that Natural England enforces.
Primary legislation
- Highways Act 1980 Act 1980
- Environment Act 2021 (enhancement) Act 2021
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Act 1991
- PLBCAA 1990 Act 1990
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 - full legislation Act 2000
- Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Act 2006
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Act 2000
- Finance Act 2001 Act 2001
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Act 1981
- Civil Contingencies Act 2004 Act 2004
- Party Wall Act 1996 Act 1996
- Traffic Management Act 2004 Act 2004
- Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 Act 1991
- Agriculture Act 2020 Act 2020
- Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 Act 2018
- British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 Act 1999
- Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 Act 1960
- Coast Protection Act 1949 Act
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 1 Act 2000
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Section 14 Act 2000
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Section 22 Act 2000
- Deer Act 1991 Act 1991
- European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 Act 2020
- Finance Act 2001, Part 2 Act 2001
- Finance Act 2004 Act 2004
- Finance Act 2004, Part 3 Act 2004
- Finance Act 2004, Section 59 Act 2004
- Finance Act 2004, Section 69 Act 2004
- Finance Act 2004, Section 72 Act 2004
- Finance Act 2025 Act 2025
- Fisheries Act 2020 Act 2020
- Forestry Act 1967, Section 24 Act 1967
- Government of Wales Act 2006 Act 2006
- Highways Act 1980, Section 175 Act 1980
- Highways Act 1980, Section 219 Act 1980
- Highways Act 1980, Section 228 Act 1980
- Highways Act 1980, Section 38 Act 1980
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 Act 2018
- Industrial Training Act 1982 Act 1982
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1927, Section 18 Act
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 9A Act 1985
- Localism Act 2011, Part 5 Act 2011
- Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Act 2009
- Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Part 4 Act 2009
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Section 71 Act 1991
- Northern Ireland Act 1998 Act 1998
- PLBCAA 1990, Section 7 Act 1990
- PLBCAA 1990, Section 72 Act 1990
- PLBCAA 1990, Section 9 Act 1990
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Act 1992
- Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 Act 2008
- Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970 Act 1964
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Act 1984
- Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 Act 1967
- Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 Act 1968
- Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Act 2007
- Water Industry Act 1991, Section 104 Act 1991
- Water Industry Act 1991, Section 106 Act 1991
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 1 Act 1981
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 14 Act 1981
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 1 Act 1981
Secondary legislation
- Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 UK Statutory Instrument 2015
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 UK Statutory Instrument 2012
- Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 UK Statutory Instrument 1977
- Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 UK Statutory Instrument 1997
- Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 UK Statutory Instrument 2017
- SSAFO Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Conservation of Habitats and Species and Planning (Various Amendments) (England and Wales) Regulations 2018 UK Statutory Instrument 2018
- The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Heritage Partnership Agreements) Regulations 2014 UK Statutory Instrument 2014
- The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 UK Statutory Instrument 1990
- Aggregates Levy (General) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/761) UK Statutory Instrument 2002
- ... and 90 more statutory instruments
Sectors regulated
Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and pets
Construction
Environment