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Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Nature Conservation

Asked by Alex MayerLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 5 February 2026UIN 110182

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Natural England has enacted byelaws under Section 28R of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the (a) protection and (b) management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Answered by Mary Creagh

Natural England has not enacted any byelaws under section 28R since the provision’s introduction in 2001. A set of Model SSSI Byelaws for this purpose was agreed with Defra in 2020 and was published by Natural England at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-england/byelaws-for-sssis/.

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