Policy paper

Nature Restoration Fund: Implementation plan

How the government plans to implement the Nature Restoration Fund.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Natural England
Published
18 December 2025

Applies to England

Documents

Implementing the Nature Restoration Fund

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Details

The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) establishes an alternative approach for developers to meet environmental responsibilities relating to certain protected sites and species.

Under the NRF, Natural England will submit draft Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) to the Secretary of State. If the Secretary of State then decides to make the EDP, this will allow developers to discharge their relevant responsibilities by paying a levy.

Where an EDP is in place, developers who use it will not be required to offset their impact on the relevant environmental feature of a protected site or a protected species on a development-by-development basis, as required in current legislation. These obligations will be fulfilled by Natural England on a strategic level funded by the levy.

This implementation plan explains:

  • how Natural England will develop EDPs
  • how developers can use the NRF once it is in place
  • the government’s target implementation timeline for the NRF

Updates to this page

Published 18 December 2025

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