There has been a "recent" change in horizontal distance minima, due to EASA believing that it is acceptable to fly VFR if the visibility is 1500m.
Having flown an ILS down to my personal minimums whilst the weather below cloud was at (allegedly) 2000m visibility, I am a little baffled by that decision... (because I don't think I could fly safely without instruments with no less than 3000m visibility)
There has been no significant change in that aspect of VFR minima for a very long time. VFR in 1500 m has been permitted at less than 140 KIAS in class G since the distances were made metric in the 1990s. The minima are designed to permit visual avoidance of obstacles and other aircraft.
What has changed is the limitation on licence privileges of a PPL without an instrument qualification, which previously had a 3000 m minimum visibility under national law. It was that aspect that was designed to provide some sort of external visual reference where the pilot did not have instrument skills.
Can anyone please point me to the UK CAA's ANO / Part-FCL which highlights the privileges of the IR(R) on a UK issued EASA licence? I am particularly interested to see if the original 1800m has been revised to 1500m in addition to check if there is any mention of DH/DA & MAPt minima.
Here. It has been revised to 1500 m and there is no mention of DH. I have no idea what "MAPt minima" are.