by Hardwick Legal | Sep 4, 2020 | Purpose Built (LexisNexis)
<article><section><p>Environment analysis: Simon Tilling and Stephen Lavington, partner and senior associate respectively in Burges Salmon’s environment and climate change team, discuss the government’s recent carbon emissions tax consultation</p><h2>What is the background leading up to this consultation?</h2><div><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">The </span><a id="ORIGHIT_6" name="ORIGHIT_6" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_6" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">Carbon </span><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_7" name="ORIGHIT_7" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_7" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">Emissions </span><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_8" name="ORIGHIT_8" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_8" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">Tax (CET) was first announced in the 2018 budget as a contingency measure in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Had the UK left the EU with no deal it would have immediately ceased participation in the EU </span><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_49" name="ORIGHIT_49" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_49" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). In those circumstances, the UK </span><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_50" name="ORIGHIT_50" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_50" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">government would have implemented CET to ensure the continuity of </span><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_51" name="ORIGHIT_51" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_51" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;"></a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;white-space:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;">carbon pricing across the UK.</span><br></div></section><p>In accordance with the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the UK will remain part of EU ETS until the transition period for leaving the EU ends on 31 December 2020. The <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_52" name="ORIGHIT_52"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_52"></a>government has already stated its intention to continue <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_53" name="ORIGHIT_53"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_53"></a>carbon pricing (which forms an essential part of meeting its ambitious 2050 <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_9" name="ORIGHIT_9"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_9"></a>net<a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_10" name="ORIGHIT_10"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_10"></a>-<a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_11" name="ORIGHIT_11"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_11"></a>zero target) and so will need to implement a replacement regime.</p><p>As outlined in the 2019 <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_54" name="ORIGHIT_54"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_54"></a>consultation, on ‘The Future of UK <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_55" name="ORIGHIT_55"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_55"></a>Carbon Pricing’ and the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_56" name="ORIGHIT_56"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_56"></a>government response document published on 1 June 2020, the preferred alternative to the EU ETS is a UK <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_57" name="ORIGHIT_57"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_57"></a>emissions trading scheme (UK ETS).</p><p>If it is not possible to put a UK ETS in place (either on a standalone basis or linked with the EU), the current intention of the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_58" name="ORIGHIT_58"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_58"></a>government is to implement CET. This <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_59" name="ORIGHIT_59"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_59"></a>consultation paper details the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_60" name="ORIGHIT_60"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_60"></a>government’s proposals for the operation of CET, building on the legislative framework for the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_61" name="ORIGHIT_61"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_61"></a>tax already contained in the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/docfromresult/D-WA-A-AWW-AWW-MsSWYWD-UUA-UZEYAAUUW-U-U-U-U-U-U-AZUAYBCVZA-ACEEVAZWZA-ZADUBYZW-U-U/1/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=Incentivising_net_zero_an_analysis_of_the_government_s_carbon_emissions_tax_consultation&linkInfo=F%23GB%23UK_ACTS%23num%252019_1a_Title%25&A=0.629263770940773&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB" target="_parent">Finance Act 2019</a> (<a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/docfromresult/D-WA-A-AWW-AWW-MsSWYWD-UUA-UZEYAAUUW-U-U-U-U-U-U-AZUAYBCVZA-ACEEVAZWZA-ZADUBYZW-U-U/1/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=Incentivising_net_zero_an_analysis_of_the_government_s_carbon_emissions_tax_consultation&linkInfo=F%23GB%23UK_ACTS%23num%252019_1a_Title%25&A=0.06223705701359439&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB" target="_parent">FA 2019</a>).</p><h2>What provisions have already been made in FA 2019 with regard to the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_12" name="ORIGHIT_12"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_12"></a>carbon <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_13" name="ORIGHIT_13"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_13"></a>emissions <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" id="ORIGHIT_14" name="ORIGHIT_14"></a><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" _.hitnav="Y" name="HIT_14"></a>tax?</h2><p><a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/docfromresult/d-wa-a-aww-aww-msswywd-uu data-sf-ec-immutable="" href=""></a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/docfromresult/d-wa-a-aww-aww-msswywd-uu></p></article>
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
Incentivising net zero—an analysis of the government’s carbon emissions tax consultation
by Hardwick Legal | Aug 28, 2020 | Purpose Built (LexisNexis)
<article><section><p>Environment analysis: The government has published its Circular Economy Package Policy Statement. The Statement builds on the Resource and Waste Strategy, the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Welsh Government strategy ‘Beyond Recycling’. It outlines how the UK will implement the requirements of the 2018 EU Circular Economy Package (CEP) and provides a revised legislative framework, concrete steps to reduce waste and establishes a long-term strategy for waste management and recycling.</p><p>The UK is committed to moving towards a more circular economy which aims to keep resources in use as long as possible, extracting maximum value from them, minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency.</p><p>The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) have jointly issued the<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-economy-package-policy-statement/circular-economy-package-policy-statement" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window"> Circular Economy Package policy statement (Policy Statement)</a>. The <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">CEP</a> introduces a revised legislative framework, identifying steps for the reduction of waste and establishing an ambitious and credible long-term path for waste management and recycling. This policy statement sets out the key changes made by the CEP and the approach of the UK to transposition of the 2020 CEP measures. <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904505/circular-economy-policy-statement-annex1.pdf" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">Annex I </a>of the Policy Statement provides details of 2020 measures and the UK government approach to transposing them. <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904511/circular-economy-policy-statement-annex2.pdf" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">Annex II </a>contains the Regulatory Triage Assessment (RTA) and <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904512/circular-economy-policy-statement-annex3.pdf" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">Annex III</a> outlines proposed guidance updates regarding PPWD.</p><h2>What is the background to the Policy Statement?</h2><p>Global waste is currently projected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes annually by 2050, a 70% increase relative to 2016 (2.0 billion tons). Waste generation causes harmful effects to humanity, wildlife and the environment. For example, increased waste generation depletes raw materials and pollutes land, water and air.</p><p>In 2015, the European Commission published proposals to amend six EU Waste Directives, including <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/environment/document/412012/60p8-kr23-gxfd-82df/linkhandler.faces?psldocinfo=government_publishes_circular_economy_package_policy_statement&linkinfo=f%23gb%23eu_dir%23num%2532008l0098%25&a=0.32357132945587075&bct=a&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=gb" data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/environment/document/412012/60P8-KR23-GXFD-82DF/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=Government_publishes_Circular_Economy_Package_Policy_Statement&linkInfo=F%23GB%23EU_DIR%23num%2532008L0098%25&A=0.32357132945587075&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB"></a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/environment/document/412012/60p8-kr23-gxfd-82df/linkhandler.faces?psldocinfo=government_publishes_circular_economy_package_policy_statement&linkinfo=f%23gb%23eu_dir%23num%2532008l0098%25&a=0.32357132945587075&bct=a&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=gb" ></p></section></article>
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
Government publishes Circular Economy Package Policy Statement
by Hardwick Legal | Aug 7, 2020 | Purpose Built (LexisNexis)
<p>On 6 August 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government published its long-awaited <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future">‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper</a>, setting out far-reaching proposals for reform to the English planning system. Alongside it, it published a second consultation on <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/907215/200805_Changes_to_the_current_planning_system_FINAL_version.pdf">interim changes to the planning system</a>, pending the outcome of the White Paper reforms. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future">White Paper</a> proposes reforms that touch on almost all aspects of the planning regime, which, among other things, propose:</p><ul type="disc"><li>reforming the role of local plans, so that they focus on identifying land under just three categories: growth areas suitable for substantial development (where outline approval for development would be automatically secured for forms and types of development specified in the plan), renewal areas suitable for some development, such as gentle densification, and protected areas where development is restricted. Plans will also be visual and map-based, standardised and based on the latest digital technology</li><li>setting general development management policies nationally, so that local plans will simply identify site and area-specific requirements, accompanied by locally-produced design codes</li><li>changing the development management process, so that outline planning permission is automatically granted for development in areas identified as growth areas in the new local plans. Further details will have to be agreed and full permission achieved through streamlined and faster consent routes which focus on securing good design and addressing site-specif</li></ul>
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
Government proposes a ‘whole new planning system for England’ in White Paper published for consultation, alongside interim reforms
by Hardwick Legal | Aug 7, 2020 | Purpose Built (LexisNexis)
<article><article><section><p>Energy analysis: With the ever-increasing pressure on the UK to move to net zero by 2050, this analysis discusses recent regulatory developments seeking to support the transition to low carbon heating and highlights future developments relevant to heat networks.</p><p>The decarbonisation of heat is anticipated to play a fundamental role in achieving net zero. The pressure to move to net zero, a target enshrined in the Climate Change Act 2018 (CCA 2018), whereby carbon emissions are reduced to as close to zero as possible by 2050 and any remaining emissions are offset by the equivalent amount being removed from the atmosphere, has been increasing rapidly.</p><p>Recently, net zero has been put into an even sharper focus in the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) landscape, with the contraction of traditional oil and gas markets due to lower levels of industrial demand, the accelerated push towards renewable energy and growing calls from consumers and stakeholders for strengthened commitment to sustainability and green recovery.</p><p>Electrification of heat through the transition to heat networks and, at a household level, through a broader deployment of heat pumps to replace gas boiler demand, remain the main routes for decarbonisation.</p><p>This article discusses recent regulatory developments seeking to support the transition to low carbon heating and highlights future developments relevant to heat networks.</p><p>Heating networks may be eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes, which provide financial support from the government to renewable heat installations where the heat is generated from an RHI-eligible technology (including, for example, biomass, heat pumps, solar and energy from waste). While this aspect is outside the scope of this article, it is worth noting that the RHI schemes are coming to an end (the non-domestic RHI is closing on 31 March 2021 and the domestic scheme on 31 March 2022) and there have been interesting recent developments relating to their closure and replacement.</p><h2>Climate Change Act 2018</h2></section><p>The CCA 2018 (as amended by The <a href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/docfromresult/D-WA-A-WUY-WUY-MsSAYWZ-UUW-UZEYAAUUW-U-U-AUUU-U-U-U-ACEEBUCUDU-ACEZYYCYDU-WEUBUVDY-AUUU-U/23/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=The_transition_to_low_carbon_heat_recent_regulatory_developments_on_heat_networks&linkInfo=F%23GB%23UK_ACTS%23num%252008_27a_Title%25&A=0.8734926417632092&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB" target="_parent">Climate Change Act 2008</a> (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019, <a ></a ></p></article></article>
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
The transition to low carbon heat—recent regulatory developments on heat networks
by Hardwick Legal | Aug 4, 2020 | Purpose Built (LexisNexis)
<p>Mike Harlow, General Counsel, Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Land Registrar at HM Land Registry (HMLR) explains why HMLR is now accepting for registration documents executed using electronic signatures and discusses plans to accept qualified electronic signatures in future.</p><article><section><section><h3>Why are you proposing to accept electronic signatures now and will this be a temporary concession?</h3><p>It is important to understand that there are two quite distinct types of electronic signature which HMLR has considered.</p><p>The first type we call a witnessed electronic signature, which is simply an electronic signature in the place where in a deed you would currently sign with wet ink. So, a witness is still required where someone is signing in their own name.</p><p>The Law Commission’s September 2019 report, <a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lawcom-prod-storage-11jsxou24uy7q/uploads/2019/09/Electronic-Execution-Report.pdf" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">Electronic execution of documents</a>,
brought clarity on their legality and set us thinking about how they might be deployed securely within the conveyancing process. That has since been spurred on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis with most conveyancers working from home
and understandably wanting to know how and when we might introduce their use. </p><p>The second type are digital signatures for which the <a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/property/document/412012/60H5-CVV3-CGXG-00JY/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=Deputy_Chief_Land_Registrar_discusses_decision_to_accept_electronic_signatures_for_registration_at_HMLR&linkInfo=F%23GB%23UK_ACTS%23num%252002_9a_Title%25&A=0.06760960022203688&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB" target="_parent">Land Registration Act 2002</a> (<a data-sf-ec-immutable="" href="https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/property/document/412012/60H5-CVV3-CGXG-00JY/linkHandler.faces?psldocinfo=Deputy_Chief_Land_Registrar_discusses_decision_to_accept_electronic_signatures_for_registration_at_HMLR&linkInfo=F%23GB%23UK_ACTS%23num%252002_9a_Title%25&A=0.3154189824372622&bct=A&risb=&service=citation&langcountry=GB" target="_parent">LRA 2002</a>) provides a specific mechanism that allows them to be used in deeds that require registration. We actually use digital signatures at the moment in our ‘digital mortgage&rsquo</p></section></section></article>
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
Deputy Chief Land Registrar discusses decision to accept electronic signatures for registration at HMLR
