Defra to improve river plans on the back of the Pickering case

Water minister Emma Hardy has told Parliament that Defra will work with the Environment Agency to deliver improved river basin management planning, consistent with the judgement handed down by the Court of Appeal in the Pickering case.

She said: “Given the significance of the judgment, we will lay out more detail on any revised approach in light of the judgment as soon as practicable and we will keep Parliament informed of developments.” Hardy added that the work will support its wider water reforms, including those coming from recommendations from the Independent Water Commission.

Last month, the Court of Appeal upheld a December 2023 landmark High Court judgement which went in favour of the Pickering Fishery Association (PFA) and Fish Legal in their case regarding water quality action in the Upper Costa Beck. This found the Government and regulator had failed in their mandatory legal duties to review, update and put in place measures to restore the polluted trout and grayling river, under the Water Framework Directive.