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The Environment Agency could be merged with Natural England to create a single environmental body, government is suggesting.
A discussion paper published yesterday by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said a merged body could carry out the functions more efficiently. However, it acknowledged such a move could involve significant costs in the short to medium term.
Alternatively, the review proposed “significant ongoing reform” without restructuring. This could include more cooperation around catchment management, for example.
Environment secretary Owen Paterson said the work of the two bodies was “more important than ever” and the review was an opportunity to take a “fresh look” at what they do and how.
“The challenge for our public bodies must be to meet their environmental obligations while looking at innovative ways to reduce the burden that this may sometimes place on business,” he said.
In Wales, the devolved administration is combining Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales. The new body, Natural Resource Wales, is to come into being in April 2013.
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