We are writing to remind you the Environment Agency launched a consultation on proposed new Decarbonisation Readiness (DR) charges under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
The consultation closes soon at 23:59 on Tuesday 6 January 2026, and we are seeking your views on:
- to what extent you agree or disagree with the proposed new charges for the assessment of DR plans as part of a permit application
- to what extent you agree or disagree with the introduction of a time and materials charge for compliance work assessing DR plans
These updates form part of a wider programme to implement DR requirements, following new obligations set out by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in the Environmental Permitting (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
From 28 February 2026, operators applying for permits for certain new or substantially refurbished electricity-generating combustion power plant will be required to include and maintain a DR report throughout the lifetime of the plant.
This consultation is part of a series of DR publications launched this year, which included:
- publication of the final DR guidance
- the consultation response to our previous DR guidance consultation
- a consultation on amendments to standard rules: Incorporation of decarbonisation readiness requirements, carbon capture at anaerobic digestion facilities and withdrawal of SR2009 No4
The DR consultation is available on Citizen Space via GOV.UK. Your feedback will help us review our proposed charges before they are finalised.
If you have any queries about the consultation, please direct them to our shared mailbox: decarbonisationreadiness@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Thank you for your continued engagement with this work.
