Corporate report

2026 DVLA report for Environment (Wales) Act 2016 Schedule 6 Duty - biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems

Published 21 April 2026

1. Introduction and context

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT), with sites in Swansea and Birmingham, and employs more than 6,000 staff. We hold nearly 53 million driver records and more than 47 million vehicle records across the UK.

Our estate consists of 3 sites in the Swansea area, covering around 63,700m². Most of our staff are based at our Morriston site, with around 1,000 working at our print, contact centre and training facilities. We also rent office space in Birmingham for under 200 staff, however, this site is not in scope for this report.

DVLA falls into group 2 in the description of organisation relative to biodiversity, in table 1 of the section 6 guidance document. DVLA is an organisation that owns, occupies or manages its own buildings and grounds, and as such is responsible for reporting on the nature recovery action plan (NRAP) objectives 1 to 6.

Sustainability and enhancing biodiversity are at the heart of what we do at the agency. This is highlighted in our corporate environmental policy, which explains our intentions: “DVLA is committed to protecting our environment, achieving net zero by 2050, and continually improving our environmental performance. Our policy is to continually improve our environmental performance by… protecting and enhancing our estate’s biodiversity and ecosystems.”

DVLA’s operational activities do not directly relate to nature recovery and land management. However, the way our estate is managed will have a positive impact on the environment. We identify a number of objectives, so we can continue to put nature recovery first when managing on and around our estate.

2. Setting a baseline

A preliminary ecological appraisal was conducted in August 2024 by Just Mammals Ltd, an ecological consultancy. Together with previous surveys, a list of plant species has been compiled for each habitat type. Indicative habitats identified at DVLA are listed in table A.

Table A

Habitat type	Environment (Wales) Act section 7 priority habitat	Morriston (main site)	Industrial site
Dense scrub	Lowland heathland	✓	✓
Parkland and scattered trees (mixed)	Wood pasture and parkland	✓	✓
Neutral semi-improved grassland	Lowland meadows	✓	✓
Amenity grassland	No	✓	✓
Introduced shrub	No	✓	✓
Species-poor intact hedgerow	Hedgerows	✓	✓
Species-poor hedgerow with trees	Hedgerows	✓
Tall ruderal	Lowland heathland		✓
Mesotrophic standing water	Ponds		✓
Dry ditch	No		✓

Table A shows the results of the phase 1 habitat survey. It also indicates whether each habitat is protected under section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act.

Further survey work was completed in 2025, which included a:

• herpetofauna survey
• tree survey (conducted at our main site)

We also included a bat survey completed in 2019 to inform our plans.

Specific actions have been assigned to individual species only when their needs are beyond the means of the actions outlined in the agency’s habitat management plans.

Table B

Species	Section 7 species	Morriston (main site)	Industrial site
Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)	✓	✓	✓
Leisler’s (Nyctalus leisleri)	✓	✓	✓
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)	✓	✓	✓
Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)	✓	✓	✓
Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)	✓	✓
Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus)	✓	✓
Honeybees			✓
Common lizards (Zootoca vivipara)	✓		✓
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)	✓		✓
Wood vetch (Vicia sylvatica)		✓
Betony (Stachys officinalis)		✓
Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)		✓
Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)		✓
Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)			✓
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster species)			✓

Table B shows the results of various species surveys. It also indicates whether each habitat is protected under section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act.

3. Governance

It is the responsibility of the Head of Corporate Sustainability to ensure that the agency meets its section 6 reporting requirements. The last report was submitted in 2022. The biodiversity action plan (BAP) factors in section 6 requirements, removing the need for a specific section 6 plan. The plan is currently being updated and will be published in 2026.

The aims of the BAP are to:

• ensure that habitat and species targets from section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, Greening Government Commitments, and Swansea local biodiversity action plan are translated into effective action on the estate
• commit to creating and improving habitats across the estate
• develop effective partnerships with staff and the local community to ensure that programmes for biodiversity conservation are maintained in the long term
• raise awareness internally and locally of the need for biodiversity conservation, and provide guidance on biodiversity
• ensure that opportunities for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity are fully considered throughout DVLA operations
• monitor and report on progress in biodiversity conservation

4. Highlights, important outcomes and issues

Highlights

Since April 2025, we’ve taken direct control of our ground maintenance contract. This has proved a very positive step, and we now work directly with our contractor to create positive change. As an example, we’ve extended our no mow plan to include most of our sites between April and September each year. We keep staff informed through internal communications and signage to explain that we’re encouraging pollinators. We have also worked together to ensure additional planting of native species.

We have increased our beehives on our estate. Currently, we have 2 hives which we introduced, but also a third colony set up independently in close proximity. The bee population benefit from the wildflowers around the site. The hives are maintained by the Sustainability team at DVLA, and any honey is intentionally left within the hives to support colony health and resilience.

Security have been trained on how to help any injured wildlife that is found on the agency’s estate. This includes information on what measures should be taken to protect both staff and the wildlife. They have also been given a list of organisations, including the nearest vet, to allow them to get the help required. There is a procedure in place to contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) if any protected or dead animal species are found at any of our sites.

Important outcomes

Evaluation of the biodiversity currently present on the agency’s estate provides a baseline for a comprehensive action plan, which is created and published. This forms a framework to guide the agency to provide resources which support and protect biodiversity across the estate and the wider community.

We have been able to dramatically reduce mowing on most of our estate, which has proved very popular with many staff. In addition, we no longer use pesticides by default, using manual methods to remove weeds and grass verges instead. This should encourage increased diversity in wildflower populations. Prioritising biodiversity can often be more cost-effective than a more prescriptive maintenance method.

The Sustainability team has built resilience and succession planning with the introduction of a graduate scheme. Currently, we have 2 graduates working towards becoming Sustainability and Environment Managers. In addition, a Senior Head of Corporate Sustainability was introduced in 2024 to ensure senior management have greater knowledge and involvement in decision making. Extra resource means DVLA can be more proactive, embedding biodiversity and sustainability into strategies and policies.

Issues

Infrastructure maintenance at DVLA during summer 2025 resulted in some temporary habitat loss, which included a tree being removed while installing a new gas pipeline. To compensate the loss of this tree, 2 new native species have been planted elsewhere on our estate. In addition to this, a wildflower and grass seed mix was sown during the reinstatement of the banks, following the completion of the new gas pipeline.

Several trees have been lost since the last report. This is due to storm damage and disease, such as ash dieback and structural defects. We continue to replace every tree we lose by planting 2 native species trees. Selecting native species helps to achieve one of the overarching aims of the BAP, while simultaneously providing an array of benefits to the local wildlife.

While we have much more control over our ground’s maintenance contractor, we’re still subject to delays in implementing improvement works.

5. NRAP objective 1: engage and support participation and understanding to embed biodiversity throughout decision making at all levels

The agency’s business plan for 2024 to 2025 explicitly states “we have scheduled work to improve and maintain habitats on our estate which will enhance and increase biodiversity.” It highlights that improving the biodiversity of the estate will be a significant contributor to achieving the business plan goal.

The Sustainability team work with a Strategic Communications Manager to plan and provide communications through a range of internal and external channels. Our aim is to keep staff, stakeholders and customers informed about our progress against the Greening Government Commitments. Examples of biodiversity-related communications include:

• an internal article encouraging participation in No Mow May, highlighting wildflower benefits, followed by before and after photos of our estate meadows flourishing when left to grow (2023)
• an internal article for National Nestbox Week to raise awareness of new nestboxes and an insect hotel being placed at our Morriston site (2023)
• an internal article titled ‘Get buzzing on World Bee Day’, highlighting the need to support pollinators (2023)
• a 6-week internal campaign, called ‘Helping nature to thrive’, demonstrating DVLA’s commitment to protect and increase biodiversity and ecosystems on our estate (2024)
• a GOV.UK ‘Inside DVLA’ blog outlining the actions DVLA is taking to support and protect biodiversity across the agency, also shared across our social media channels (2024)
• an internal article introducing a new biodiversity-focused mowing schedule, starting with No Mow May, to help restore natural habitats and support pollinators on our Swansea estate (2025)
• an internal article written by our Strategic Communications Manager following her visit to our beehives, detailing her experience (2025)

6. NRAP objective 2: safeguard species and habitats of principal importance and improve their management

The BAP identifies species and habitats on the section 7 biodiversity lists which have been found on the agency’s estate. To meet the requirements of the Environment (Wales) Act, specific habitat management plans have been put in place. The list of habitats and species can be found under ‘Setting a baseline’ in this report.

We maintain beehives on our estate. A member of the Sustainability team, who is also an experienced beekeeper, oversees the 2 hives located at our industrial site. Regular inspections are carried out to ensure the hives and colonies remain free from damage, disease, and pests. By using low intervention, a natural beekeeping approach that minimises unnecessary stress on the bees, both colonies continue to thrive. All honey is intentionally left within the hives to support colony health and resilience, and management activities are limited to essential monitoring and welfare checks. This approach supports sustainable, self‑supporting colonies and aligns with our wider biodiversity objectives.

Nature recovery is managed through the agency’s environmental management system. There is a schedule of auditing in place that includes an audit of the agency’s progress against biodiversity and nature recovery objectives. The scope includes what has been achieved, any issues or challenges and what actions are planned to make progress.

7. NRAP objective 3: increase the resilience of our natural environment by restoring degraded habitats and habitat creation

Most of our estate is urban and can be described as a built environment. However, green areas present on the estate contain a diversity of habitats and species, and some are protected under section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act. There is an opportunity for DVLA to increase resilience to negative effects on the natural environment, such as climate change, through protecting these habitats and creating new ones. Below you’ll find examples of actions DVLA has taken in the last 3 years to achieve this.

Work has been conducted on the freshwater pond at the industrial unit site, to restore and protect this habitat. The pond is now monitored to prevent encroachment of vegetation, which could choke the habitat. Every year, on rotation, the pond will be cleaned of another third of its vegetation.

To limit algae growth on the pond, barley straw has been introduced, and will continue to be intermediately. This will naturally limit the build-up of algae on the pond, helping to maintain the health of the habitat. This is also an example of biological control without the use of algaecides, providing a more economical solution without introducing chemicals to the ecosystem.

The agency has several hedgerows across its estate, used by birds and small mammals to feed and nest. No hedges should be trimmed between the months of March to August. If hedge trimming is required, a walkover survey is made to ensure that there are no nesting birds. If birds are found building or using a nest, that section of hedge is not cut until later in the year when nesting is no longer active.

Clearance plans are in development to reduce scrub and improve the pond at the industrial unit site. This will create a more diverse habitat that will better support the herpetofauna populations.

We have utilised any dead trees or trees that have been removed to build log piles, which create natural hibernacula for wildlife.

DVLA have installed new bird boxes and an insect house at our Morriston site.

8. NRAP objective 4: tackle key pressures on species and habitats

The agency has a Japanese Knotweed management plan in place to monitor and treat populations of this invasive species across the estate. Between 2022 to 2025, no new areas of Japanese Knotweed were identified, and areas being managed have not seen signs of growth since 2023. The management plan has been effective in removing this invasive species from the estate, but we maintain regular surveillance, in case of regrowth.

Herbicide and pesticide are not used by default. Countrywide need approval for its use on site. Manual removal of everyday weeds and unwanted kerbside growth has been implemented since April 2025.

The agency has a 14001:2015 accredited Environmental Management System (EMS), which allows the Sustainability team to monitor, measure and reduce the agency’s effect on the environment. The Greening Government Commitments place stringent environmental targets on the agency, ranging from reducing total carbon emissions, to the amount of paper we use.

The agency continues to work towards reducing its environmental influence, which cuts its effect on the local environment, stopping pressure on local species and habitats.

Table C

	2022 to 2023	2023 to 2024	2024 to 2025
Total carbon emissions (CO2e)	5,111	5,344	4,945
Water consumption (m³)	39,547	54,724	55,977
Total waste (tonnes)	909	845	936
Waste to landfill (%)	0.8	0.5	0.4

Table C shows the year-on-year comparisons of the agency’s environmental performance.

DVLA must ensure it meets the minimum mandatory Government Buying Standards (GBS) when buying goods and services. This forms part of the government’s public sustainable procurement. The objective is for DVLA to meet its needs for goods, service, works and utilities in a way that benefits not only the organisation, but also society and the economy, while minimising damage to the environment.

Below you’ll find a summary of standards DVLA complies with, highlighting our work on mitigating the damage that our estate and operations have on the environment.  The summary below does not cover all of the Government Buying Standards.

Envelopes

Envelopes must have:

• 100% recycled content for general use
• 60% recycled content for mailing system use - of the non-recycled contents (40% or less), any virgin pulp used must be purchased in accordance with UK timber procurement policy

Only timber and timber products originating either from independently verified legal and sustainable sources, or from a licensed Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) partner, can be purchased.

Paper

The recycling process must be Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF), with Adsorbable Organic Halogenated compound (AOX) emissions from the production of each pulp used below 0.25kg per Air Dried Tonne (ADT) or Process Chlorine Free (PCF).

Copying and graphic paper must have 100% recycled content, to include only genuine recovered fibre (no ‘mill broke’ unless solely from a recycled paper production line), in accordance with National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) definition.

Tissue paper (for example, kitchen and toilet tissue or hand towels) must have 100% recycled content, to include only genuine recovered fibre.

Food and catering services

At least 10% of the total monetary value of primary commodity (raw ingredient) food and drink procured shall be inspected and certified to:

• publicly available Integrated Production (IP) or Integrated Farm Management (IFM) standards
• publicly available organic standards compliant with European Council Regulation 834/2007

All palm (including palm oil and products derived from palm oil) used for cooking and as an ingredient in food must be sustainably produced.

All fish are demonstrably sustainable, with all wild caught fish meeting the Food and Agriculture Organisation Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (this includes Marine Stewardship Council certification and Marine Conservation Society ‘fish to eat’, or equivalent).

Textiles

Bidders must indicate the proportion of cotton or other natural fibres used in the final product by weight deriving from organic production. The supplier must provide evidence of the origin of the fibres used and the organic nature of their production, such as the EU organic logo or approved national logos for organic production.

Bidders should indicate how they’ve applied life cycle thinking to select fibres and materials that have the lowest environmental influence over the whole life of their product. The supplier must provide evidence of the benefit compared with a realistic alternative fibre over its lifetime, as justified by independent studies (for example, life cycle assessment).

Bidders must indicate the proportion of the product by weight made of recycled fibres, for example, fibres originating only from cuttings from textile and clothing manufacturers, or from post-consumer waste (textile or otherwise).

9. NRAP objective 5: improve our evidence, understanding and monitoring

We undertook ecological surveys in 2024 to 2025 to provide data for the latest BAP.  One purpose of this is to track the effect the BAP has had on wildlife across the estate. The information gathered was also used to inform the latest iteration of the BAP, providing data to determine which areas need greater concentration.

The data gathered from these surveys increases our knowledge of our sites, which makes for better informed decisions. This gives the Sustainability team further opportunities to engage with our stakeholders across the estate. We also use this evidence to support the implementation of biodiversity initiatives.

10. NRAP objective 6: put in place a framework of governance and support for delivery

A sustainability steering group has been established, which consists of senior management from stakeholder departments. The group holds regular meetings to discuss the progress of our environmental goals and issues or opportunities that have presented themselves. The group also works to embed biodiversity throughout decision making across the business.

The Head of Corporate Sustainability is a qualified ecologist with more than 15 years of experience. This illustrates that ecological expertise can be drawn upon without the need to seek external consultation. This means the Sustainability team has the expertise available to ensure that nature recovery is at the heart of the agency’s environmental plan.

With support from our Strategic Communications Manager, we’re enhancing our sustainability communications to explore new and more effective ways to engage staff. With more people aware of the importance of protecting and promoting biodiversity, collaboration continues to improve, and will be paramount in achieving the goals set out in the agency’s BAP.

DVLA continues to be an active member of Swansea’s local nature partnership, engaging with other organisations in the Swansea area to support biodiversity and nature recovery. Recently, the agency helped to refine the Swansea local nature recovery action plan by providing feedback on stated goals.

A new role was created in January 2024 as Head of Corporate Sustainability, to ensure the environment is integral to DVLA strategic planning.

In September 2024, the Sustainability team introduced a graduate scheme, designed to train and give experience to graduates wanting to work in the sustainability sector. We currently have 2 graduates working on team. These roles allow us to work on nature recovery.

11. Next steps

Since April 2025, our new grounds maintenance contractor, Countrywide, have proactively managed the estate to support biodiversity and nature recovery. We look forward to working collaboratively with them to meet the targets of the latest BAP for 2025 to 2030, which is due to be published soon. We also work with our soft and hard service contractors, ensuring DVLA meets our environmental goals and objectives, including those set out in the BAP.

We proactively work with our hard service, soft service, and grounds maintenance contractors to ensure continued compliance with all applicable environmental legislation.

Initiatives for 2026 include managing the pond to reduce vegetation build up and to ensure there’s a clear space to increase the potential of the pond for invertebrate and amphibian activity. Further works will include implementing a mosaic habitat by clearing some areas of scrub to maintain suitable areas for herpetofauna and letting in extra light to our beehives.

We will continue to look for opportunities to strengthen engagement through our communications. With more people aware of the importance of protecting and promoting biodiversity, collaboration will be paramount in achieving the goals set out in the agency’s BAP.

The BAP is currently under review and is due to be published in 2026. This plan will also consider any compliance obligations or government targets, including those stated in the Greening Government Commitments.

Deputy Director Estates Management Group: Cennydd Powell

Head of Corporate Sustainability: Andrew Lees

Dated: February 2026