Water Resources Act 1991

[F1 61ZA No compensation where modification to protect environment: England E+W

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a relevant licence is revoked or varied on or after 1 January 2028 in pursuance of a direction under section 54 or 56, and

(b) the ground for revoking or varying the licence is that the Secretary of State is satisfied the revocation or variation is necessary—

(i) having regard to a relevant environmental objective, or

(ii) to otherwise protect the water environment from damage.

(2) A “relevant licence” is a licence to abstract water that—

(a) is to abstract water in England only, and

(b) is to remain in force until revoked.

(3) Where this section applies, no compensation is payable under section 61 in respect of the revocation or variation of the licence.

(4) In this section the “water environment” means—

(a) any inland waters (including, in relation to a lake, pond, river or watercourse that is for the time being dry, its bottom, channel or bed),

(b) any water contained in underground strata,

(c) any underground strata themselves,

or any flora or fauna dependent on any of them.

(5) In this section “relevant environmental objective” means an environmental objective within the meaning of whichever of the following is applicable—

(a) the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/407);

(b) the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Solway Tweed River Basin District) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/99);

(c) the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Northumbria River Basin District) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3245).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 61ZA, 61ZB inserted (9.1.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), ss. 88(1), 147(2)(k) (with s. 144)