Sites of Special Scientific Interest
(asked on 18th June 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to minimise risks potentially leading to delays in implementing interim targets for (1) assessing, and (2) improving, the condition of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Answered by
Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra published a delivery plan for the interim protected sites target alongside the revised Environmental Improvement Plan published in December 2025. The delivery plan includes a wide range of actions, to 1) assess and 2) improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The 50% of actions on track interim target will actively help improve the condition of SSSIs. Natural England (NE) carries out condition assessments of SSSI features to inform these actions. For the actions to count as being ‘on track’, the feature needs to have an up-to-date assessment and needs an agreed action plan to be underway.
To strengthen delivery Defra now chairs the Major Landowners Group to help drive collective effort. Defra tracks delivery through regular updates from NE and the Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report. Defra will review the delivery plan and update it as policy and evidence evolve to ensure effective delivery.