The Construction Leadership Council has thanked the Government for taking initial steps to address a planning issue that has held back development of new homes, but calls for speed in implementing solutions.
Natural England‘s new Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and a new duty on water and sewerage companies in England to upgrade wastewater treatment works, announced last week by Environment Secretary George Eustice MP, will open routes to allow local planning authorities to grant planning permission for new developments in areas with nutrient pollution issues.
Currently over 100,000 homes are on hold because of nutrient neutrality rules, established to limit the impact of pollution on freshwater habitats such as rivers, wetlands and estuaries.
The new Scheme and duty would maintain protections for these sensitive areas while providing means for mitigation allowing developments to proceed.
The Construction Leadership Council had previously flagged the challenges that the nutrient neutrality issue was creating for developers. It notes that the key requirement is now rapid implementation of the measures announced so that the damage current planning restrictions are causing to housing delivery and to many builders and their supply chain can be ended.
John Slaughter of the CLC’s Housing Workstream said: “The Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and the new duty on water companies are important steps designed to clear the blockage stopping thousands of much needed homes from progressing into construction.
“But we must continue to work urgently with local and national government to address other challenges associated with nutrient neutrality, including steps to get projects underway immediately as these broader reforms may take time to implement.”
