COVID-19 Response from SNCOs, Government Agencies and Others

For the latest updates from the UK statutory nature conservation bodies, government agencies and others, please see the below websites.

Please also note that further information is listed on the COVID-19 and Guidance for Site Management and Other Practical Outdoor Work webpage.

England

• Natural England
  • Defra Covid-19 guidance to Natural England – wildlife surveying and mitigation works (28 May 2020)
  • WML-CL33 GCN advice letter (28 April 2020) [Note: Letter from Natural England to provide advice on completing licensed activities on sites registered under WML-CL33 (the GCN low impact class licence) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it provides updated interpretation on who can use the licence and in what circumstances. The letter is relevant to Registered Ecological Consultants for WML-CL33 and must be read in conjunction with that licence. The advice does not alter the requirements of any other licence issued by Natural England.]
  • Natural England Operational Update
  • Coronavirus – Guidance on implications for Natural England’s development management advice and wildlife licensing (22 April 2020)
  • Coronavirus – Guidance on implications for Natural England’s development management advice and wildlife licensing (16 April 2020)
• Environment Agency
  • Coronavirus: Environment Agency update
  • COVID-19 regulatory position statements
  • Environment Agency operational update
• UK Planning Inspectorate Updates
  • Planning Inspectorate guidance in relation to the spread of the Coronavirus
  • Planning guidance: letters to chief planning officers
  • Letter to local planning authorities re using their discretion on the enforcement of other planning conditions which hinder the effective response to coronavirus
• Construction
  • Letter to the Construction Sector from Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng BEIS SoS (11 January 2021)
  • Site Operating Procedures Version 7 (Construction Leadership Council, 7 January 2021)
  • Remediation and COVID-19: Building Safety update (last updated 2 July 2020)
  • Construction Roadmap to Recovery Plan Published (Construction Leadership Council, 1 June 2020)
  • Guidance – Coronavirus (COVID-19): charter for safe working practice (14 May 2020)
  • Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Cards – Covid-19
  • Secretary of State Letter to UK Construction Industry (31 March 2020)

Scotland

• Scottish Government
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: staying safe and protecting others (23 Sep 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Phase 1 update (29 May 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis (21 May 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – further information (5 May 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making (23 April 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): statement to telecommunications operators on build and maintenance of networks (9 April 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): business and social distancing guidance (4 April 2020)
• NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage)
  • Coronavirus: Latest updates
• SEPA – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
• Planning
  • Chief Planner letter: stakeholder update – March 2021
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): planning procedures – Chief Planner letter (29 May 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): development planning consultation and engagement advice (29 May 2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): development planning – Chief Planner letter (29 May 2020)
  • SNH Planning for Development Services update
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): development management – frequently asked questions
  • Planning Procedures and COVID-19: Chief Planner letter (3 April 2020)
• Construction
  • Scottish Government: Guidance for construction industry (6 April 2020)
• Energy
  • Letter regarding Covid-19 and Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (SG Energy and Climate Change Directorate, 15 April 2020)

Wales

• Welsh Government – Local Lockdown Information
• Welsh Government – Coronavirus regulations FAQs
• Welsh Government – Leading Wales out of the coronavirus pandemic: Framework for Recovery
• Natural Resources Wales – Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic (last updated 26 March 2021) (Cymraeg)
• Natural Resources Wales – Processes and timescales for protected species licensing during the Covid-19 outbreak (March 2021; Cymraeg)
• Welsh Government Planning Inspectorate Updates
  • Chief Planner letter to Heads of Planning (29 April 2020) (Welsh version)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Planning Service Guidance (27 March 2020)
  • LDP Preparation – Covid 19 implications (18 March 2020)

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Republic of Ireland

• Plan for living with COVID-19 (updated 2 October 2020)
• Irish Government Roadmap for reopening society and business
• Environmental Protection Agency – Covid-19

Other

• Recommendations of the EUROBATS Advisory Committee on potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to bats (11 May 2020)
• IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group (BSG) Recommended Strategy for Researchers to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Humans to Bats (MAP: Minimize, Assess, Protect) (Living Document Version 1.0 Released 19th June 2020)
• Guidelines for Working with Free-Ranging Wild Mammals in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic (OIE, IUCN, WHSG; August 2020)
• Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • COVID-19 outbreak: What are experts concerned about? (11 May 2020)
  • UK POST – Covid-19 (ongoing analysis of various topics)
• BSI: Guidance on safe working during the COVID-19 pandemic (updated to version 3)
• Mineral Products Association
  • Managers COVID-19 Guidance Version 1.0
  • Employees COVID-19 Guidance Version 1.0
• A statement on the COVID-19 pandemic by IUCN European Regional Office (21 April 2020)
• IPBES Guest Article on COVID-19 Stimulus (27 April 2020)
• UN Environment Programme statement on Covid-19

This webpage was last updated on 22 March 2021.