The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives Natural England powers to ensure better protection and management of SSSIs and safeguard their existence into the future. The Government's Public Service Agreement target is for 95% of SSSI land to be in 'favourable' or 'recovering' condition by 2010.

Owners of SSSIs must give us written notice before they begin any of the operations listed in the notification as likely to damage the special interest features, or if they allow others to carry out these activities. None of the listed operations can be carried out without our consent, or the consent of another public body, provided that the other body has formally consulted Natural England. Natural England's local staff will always try to agree or negotiate a practical and realistic solution.

In many cases, it may be possible to carry out the operation without damaging the site, but conditions or time limits may be attached to any consent given.

Our regional teams can provide advice to landowners on the appropriate management of a site and the processes for giving us notice of any operations they may wish to carry out.

If Natural England refuse to give consent to an operation that may damage the special features of a SSSI, that operation may not legally take place.

If consent is refused, or an owner or occupier of a SSSI is unhappy with conditions that have been applied to a consent, an appeal can be made to the Secretary of State.

Every SSSI in England is registered as a local land charge, so anyone buying land will be able to discover if it is notified as a SSSI. Anybody who already owns a SSSI must inform us within 28 days of any change in ownership or occupation of that land.

Enforcement Policy Statement

Click here to download Natural England's SSSI Enforcement Policy Statement (114 KB)

Click here to download the Joint Statement of Intent

Wildlife crime conservation priorities

To download a copy of Natural England's wildlife crime conservation priorities, click here