R (Pickering Fishery Association) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Subject Matter

ENVIRONMENT — Protection — River basin management plan — Secretary of State approving plan setting out programme of measures for river basin — Whether erring in law in approving plan containing generic measures not specific to any particular site or water body — Whether programme of measures required to meet relevant environmental objectives at level of individual water bodies — Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/407), regs 12, 13(1)(2), 16(6)(b), 31(1) — Parliament and Council Directive 2000/60/EC, arts 4, 11, Annex II, para 1.5

[2023] EWHC 2918 (Admin); [2024] PTSR 315; [2023] WLR(D) 478, KBD

ENVIRONMENT — Protection — River basin management plan — Secretary of State approving plan setting out programme of measures for river basin — Whether erring in law in approving plan containing generic measures not specific to any particular site or water body — Whether programme of measures required to meet relevant environmental objectives at level of individual water bodies — Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/407), regs 12, 13(1)(2), 16(6)(b)(7), 25 — Parliament and Council Directive 2000/60/EC, arts 4, 11(5)(8), 13(4)(7), Annex VII

[2025] EWCA Civ 378; [2025] PTSR 1732; [2025] WLR(D) 205, CA

Appellate History

Commentary

UK Human Rights Blog
Defra’s generic plan for river clean up unlawful – local focus on water bodies needed Case comment