The National Angling Strategy (2019-2024) was launched today by Environment Agency Chair Emma Howard Boyd, with members of the angling community, and representatives of the Angling Trust at Get Hooked on Fishing’s Northala Fields venue in Northolt, West London.

The strategy will be implemented by a new partnership body – the National Angling Strategy Partnership Board, coordinated by the Angling Trust with representatives from the Environment Agency, Angling Trades Association, Get Hooked on Fishing and Canal and River Trust.

The strategy was developed by technology and research company Substance after widespread consultation with the angling community and using feedback from the national angling survey that was conducted in 2018 which received 35,000 responses. The responses included the need to make more information available on where and how to fish and the need to emphasise the mental health and physical fitness benefits of fishing.

Environment Agency Chair Emma Howard Boyd said:

The National Angling Strategy aims to get more people out to experience angling – because we know that getting outdoors and experiencing nature is good for health and wellbeing.

I’m really pleased that the Environment Agency is working with partners and anglers on this exciting vision for growing the sport and delivering the best possible angling experience in England.

Aims and Objectives of the National Angling Strategy

• Objective 1 – Develop awareness and knowledge of angling. A marketing campaign, backed by research, with new information on how and where to fish.
• Objective 2- Increase participation in angling An increase in angling participation by 2024 and increases in females, young people and BAME communities taking part.
• Objective 3 – Develop social benefits through angling An increase in people getting physically active through angling, delivery of angling for health programmes; and an angling volunteer programme.
• Objective 4 – Develop Sustainable Places to Fish Involve anglers more in environmental improvement work and science, develop more local and accessible places for people to fish and develop more community waters.
• Objective 5 – Increase Angling’s Economic Impact Deliver a trade-backed market development plan, new funding for developing the angling sector and tackle shop and angling tourism support.
• Objective 6 – Understand angling data and evidence Develop an angling research programme to inform future actions, stakeholders and angling commerce interests, and to evaluate the strategy’s success.

A new National Angling Strategy has been launched to encourage greater participation in the sport by focusing on the health and well-being benefits that angling can bring.

List of projects supported by the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

In May:

• HM Land Registry completed 1,732,280 applications to change or query the Land Register
• the South East topped the table of regional applications with 390,642

HM Land Registry completed 1,732,280 applications in May compared with 1,682,690 in April and 1,723,578 last May, of which:

• 357,400 were applications for register updates compared with 326,712 in April
• 896,653 were applications for an official copy of a register compared with 900,402 in April
• 198,501 were search and hold queries (official searches) compared with 196,722 in April
• 19,228 were postal applications from non-account holders compared with 15,051 in April

Applications by region and country

Top 5 local authority areas

Top 5 customers

Access the full dataset on data.gov.uk

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Transaction Data is published on the 15th working day of each month. The June data will be published at 11am on Friday 19 July 2019.

Halifax County Court is being converted into 16 supported living apartments by Highstone Housing Association, who purchased the building from Homes England.

Ownership of the historic site was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to Homes England, who are providing the funding for the new properties through their affordable homes programme.

In addition to converting the existing 19th century court building, Highstone will add a new mezzanine floor in the roof space to create the apartments and a sleep room for support workers.

Dilys Jones, Head of Home Ownership and Supply for Homes England in the North East said:

“Our ambition is to ensure the public sector land and buildings we inherit support local plans and local ambitions.

“We’re pleased to see this historic building being brought back into use as much needed affordable homes that enable adults with learning disabilities lead independent lives at the heart of their community.”

It’s anticipated that work on the new apartments will be completed by Spring 2020.

Joanne Hawley, Director of Highstone Housing Association added:

“We are delighted to have acquired this iconic building in the centre of Halifax; an ideal location. Our aim is to provide bespoke accommodation of the highest quality, whilst maintaining the distinctive character of the county court.

“Highstone’s vision for the development sees the existing building revitalised to provide lifetime homes for its 16 tenants and a pleasant working environment for the support team.”

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For more information contact Sarah Foulkes, Communications Officer at Homes England. Tel: 0161 200 6130/ 07967 782 162 or email sarah.foulkes@homesengland.gov.uk