Natural England’s risk-averse approach is increasingly affecting well-managed and long-established rural activities. Shooting, predator control, habitat management and gamebird release are being constrained in ways which undermine the contribution these activities make to conservation and practical land management.
BASC submitted detailed evidence to the NAO during the review. It set out how NE frequently prioritises the avoidance of risk over evidence-led decision-making. The NAO’s findings closely reflect those concerns, noting that environmental risk is often treated in absolute terms, where even minimal or theoretical harm leads to a presumption against activity.
The report also supports BASC’s concerns about the use of evidence. The NAO found that NE has not evaluated the impact of its regulatory work for several years and that decisions affecting protected sites are sometimes based on generic or outdated data, rather than robust, site-specific monitoring. BASC has consistently warned that these gaps lead to disproportionate restrictions on land managers and weaken accountability for regulatory outcomes.
Operational issues highlighted by the NAO will be familiar to many BASC members. The report points to inconsistent application of regulation between teams, a loss of local expertise, skills shortages and limited flexibility in engagement. Members regularly report delays, rigid procedures and a lack of practical support or communication, which undermine confidence in the system.
While the NAO notes NE’s stated commitment to reform, BASC believes the report underlines the scale of change required. Without a clear shift towards proportionate, evidence-based regulation, the problems identified will remain.