# The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are the third commencement regulations made under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (“the Act”).
Regulation 3 brings into force on the day after which these Regulations are made Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Act (except paragraph 14(2)). Part 1 of the Schedule amends the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (“the Habitats Regulations”) extending the protection in Part 6 of those Regulations to Ramsar sites in England. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat signed at Ramsar on 2 February 1971. These amendments introduce a statutory requirement for Ramsar sites to be treated in the same manner as European sites when carrying out assessments under those Regulations.
Regulation 4 makes transitional provisions in relation to certain kinds of projects to which the changes made to the Habitats Regulations do not apply.
An impact assessment has been produced in relation to the Act and copies can be obtained at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0196/IA_annexes.pdf or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, United Kingdom.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/549/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/planning-and-infrastructure-act-2025-commencement-no-3-and-transitional-provisions-regulations-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.