Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 2 July 2026.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Conservative
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement interim targets for (1) assessing, and (2) improving, the condition of England’s Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Conservative
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to minimise risks potentially leading to delays in implementing interim targets for (1) assessing, and (2) improving, the condition of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra published a delivery plan for the interim protected sites target alongside the revised Environmental Improvement Plan published in December 2025. The delivery plan includes a wide range of actions, to 1) assess and 2) improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The 50% of actions on track interim target will actively help improve the condition of SSSIs. Natural England (NE) carries out condition assessments of SSSI features to inform these actions. For the actions to count as being ‘on track’, the feature needs to have an up-to-date assessment and needs an agreed action plan to be underway.
To strengthen delivery Defra now chairs the Major Landowners Group to help drive collective effort. Defra tracks delivery through regular updates from NE and the Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report. Defra will review the delivery plan and update it as policy and evidence evolve to ensure effective delivery.
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