OEP files written submissions for the Pickering appeal case

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has filed written submissions in our intervention in the appeal of R (Pickering Fishery Association) v the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This is ahead of the Court of Appeal hearing of that case on 14 and 15 January 2025.

The appeal concerns a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s approval of the Humber River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Regulations. The Court of Appeal will consider whether planned programmes of measures to achieve the environmental objectives for the Upper Costa Beck water body in North Yorkshire were sufficient to meet the requirements of the WFD Regulations. 

We do not take sides between the parties in the case and have not made submissions on the underlying facts of the appeal. Rather, our submissions highlight that the appeal has wider ramifications for what should be contained in planned programmes of measures to achieve environmental objectives for water bodies across England. The OEP argues for the Court of Appeal to take the opportunity presented by this appeal to clarify the law here to ensure proper decision-making that promotes positive outcomes for English water bodies.

Further details can be found in a previous statement issued when it was confirmed our application to intervene had been granted: OEP granted permission to intervene in Pickering appeal case