Recommendation 25

Natural England told us it has made progress in improving its guidance through adding real-life case studies so that businesses can understand what they need to do to comply.66 Defra also explained it has piloted the use of AI tools such as chatbots to help farmers locate the right guidance more easily.67 Natural England stated that it is also simplifying written guidance, and seeking to give its customers more autonomy and self-control, with less reliance on and interaction with Natural England processing. For example, it is seeking to give ecologists the accreditation to issue certain licences to customers on Natural England’s behalf, so that Natural England no longer needs direct involvement with the customer.68 A pilot of a ‘lead environmental regulator’ approach to developments involving multiple 58 Qq 60-61 59 Q 66 60 Defra, A New Vision for Water, CP 1490, 20 January 2026 61 Q 53 62 Q 55 63 Q 55 64 Q 24 65 Q 42 66 Q 56 67 Q 71 68 Q 57 17 regulators is also assisting Natural England in understanding the processes and requirements of other environmental regulators, and how these can be better co-ordinated for a single development.69 Nature Restoration Fund