Welcome to the Award winning Habitats Regulations Assessment Handbook and accompanying Journal
Aimed at statutory bodies, local authorities, other 'competent authorities', third sector organisations, ecologists, lawyers, planners and project proposers, the Handbook is the one definitive source of detailed guidance that is regularly updated for good practice and monitored by a barrister specialising in environmental law and the Habitats Regulations in particular.
Current subscribers to the Handbook include
- Natural England
- Natural Resources Wales
- Northern Ireland Shared Environment Service
- Environment Agency
- Marine Management Organisation
- The Planning Inspectorate
- Environment Protection Agency (Ireland)
- An Bord Pleanala
- Department Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
- Local planning authorities
- Consultants, lawyers and third sector organisations
Click here to find out more about who currently uses the Handbook.
**NEW** IMPORTANT NOTICE - POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE HABITATS REGULATIONS AND INTERIM POSITION FOR THE HRA HANDBOOK
Over the last few years Ministers have regularly expressed the view that the Habitats Regulations should be substantially changed to better align with Government objectives. Statutory provisions have been made to enable Ministers to amend the Regulations. We emailed subscribers on December 12th to explain that we expected to see consultations about the proposed changes ahead of new or amended regulations that could be in place before the end of 2025. The first such consultation was launched by the Departnment of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 15th December (click here). The amendments that come forwards may, amongst other things, fundamentally change the HRA process.
We have therefore reluctantly, but realistically, decided to make some interim changes to the DTA Publications offer for the Handbook and Journal for 2025.
NEW SUBSCRIBERS - NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE HANDBOOK ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
EXISTING SUBSCRIBERS - PLEASE LOGIN TO THE MEMBER'S AREA FOR MORE DETAIL REGARDING THE INTERIM CHANGES TO THE SERVICE DURING 2025
On 1st December 2025 we will review future service provision in light of consultations, regulatory changes and resources available and communicate the outcome of this review to all clients before the end of December 2025. This may mean the restart of the normal updatable on-line Handbook model or an alternative offer that better fits legislative changes.
Click here to read an independent published user review.
Click here to preview the Handbook content.
