#2026/116Northern Ireland Habitats Conservation Amendment Regulations 2026
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This regulation changes how certain protected nature and marine sites are designated in Northern Ireland. It updates the role of the UK Secretary of State and gives the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs clearer responsibility for several functions under the 1995 habitats rules. For European marine sites, the Department must still get the Secretary of State’s agreement or consent before designating or classifying certain sites. The changes mainly affect public authorities involved in nature conservation, marine planning, environmental assessment, and protected-site management.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Updates the Secretary of State’s role in the designation and classification of European marine sites in Northern Ireland.
- Requires Secretary of State agreement or consent for certain European site and European marine site decisions.
- Transfers several references and operational powers from the Secretary of State to the Northern Ireland Department.
Obligations
What this law requires
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs must not designate a site as a European Site under regulation 6(1) unless it has obtained the agreement of the UK Secretary of State.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs must not classify a site as a European marine site under regulation 8A(1) unless it has obtained the consent of the UK Secretary of State.