In May 2025, CIEEM sent a letter to the Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP, outlining our concerns with the emasculation of Defra and the shift in responsibility for oversight of the environmental outcomes of development from Defra to MHCLG constitutes an unjustified downgrading of DEFRA’s oversight and decision-making responsibilities.

Although sent directly to the Defra Secretary of State, some elements of the letter were picked up in the media. So for full transparency, we are publishing the letter in full.