The Crown Estate Bill [HL] is a government bill to widen the borrowing and investment powers of the Crown Estate. The government intends this will help speed up the development of offshore wind projects in seabed areas managed by the Crown Estate and deliver long-term financial returns to the taxpayer. It announced a partnership between the Crown Estate and Great British Energy on the same day it introduced the bill.
Crown Estate Bill [HL] (340KB PDF)
The Crown Estate Bill [HL] is a government bill introduced in the House of Lords on 25 July 2024. It is scheduled to have its second reading on 2 September 2024. The Crown Estate manages land and property held “in right of the crown”, including the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Crown Estate’s net revenue profits are paid to the Treasury. The amount of profit is used to determine the size of the sovereign grant paid to the King, although it is the Treasury that pays the grant. It is governed by the Crown Estate Act 1961. The bill would amend this legislation to:
The government believes that widening the Crown Estate’s investment and borrowing powers will unlock significant investment in public infrastructure for the benefit of the nation. On the day the bill was introduced, the government announced a partnership between the Crown Estate and Great British Energy to bring forward new offshore wind developments. It said this could lead to up to 20–30 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind projects reaching the seabed lease stage by 2030. The Conservative government had announced plans in the 2023 autumn statement to legislate to increase the Crown Estate’s borrowing and investment powers but did not introduce this legislation in the 2023–24 parliamentary session. The Crown Estate itself has welcomed the legislation. However, commentators have suggested that the success of new offshore wind developments will require increasing capacity on the electricity grid.
Crown Estate Bill [HL] (340KB PDF)
The Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). The bill would recognise nature as a legal subject, granting it specific rights for protection and restoration. The bill would set out a legal framework for how this would operate, including an integrated rights framework and mechanisms for how nature’s rights would be implemented and enforced.
![Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Environment-568x426.png)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
