Environmental Improvement Plans
Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs) are rolling statutory plans setting out the requirements for improving the natural environment. The Environment Act 2021 places a legal requirement on the Secretary of State for DEFRA to produce an EIP every 15 years and is applicable to England only. The current EIP is the 25- Year Environment Plan[1].
Introduction
The Environment Act 2021 (regulation 8) places a legal duty on the Secretary of State DEFRA to prepare a plan for significantly improving the natural environment (an Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP)) and sets requirements for what an EIP must contain[1]. These plans are necessary to provide the comprehensive and long term vision that will guide legislation and policy to deliver better protection and enhancement to the environment.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has a duty to monitor progress in improving the natural environment, including reviewing annual progress reports for the current EIP - the 25- Year Environment Plan