In order for the government to achieve its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, minister are seeking to adjust nutrient neutrality rules – despite having opposed the Conservatives’ efforts to scrap them while Labour was in opposition. Reportedly, the government is not planning to scrap the environmental rules entirely, but intends to “change the delivery pathway”.
Nutrient neutrality rules came into force to limit river pollution by restricting housebuilding – much to the chagrin of the property industry, whom have voiced complaints that Natural England has thereby blocked large numbers of new developments. The current rules prevent developers from building houses in protected areas when it would add harmful substances like nitrogen and phosphorus into nearby rivers and lakes, because such nutrients can cause algal blooms that deprive other plants and animals of light and oxygen.
The government met with environmental groups on Wednesday in an attempt to unblock planning projects currently prevented by the anti-pollution rules and deliver on their new homes promise. An open letter sent to environmental groups, the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner and Environment Secretary, Steve Reed explained that the rules needed an overhaul as they are “not working”.
Rayner and Reed propose to allow developers to build and subsequently work on mitigation strategies, which some have argued is a measure to “kick the problem further down the road”. Reportedly, the proposed approach is one that allows pollution mitigation to take place alongside development. That could involve, the creation of a ‘National Strategic Mitigation’ fund which developers would be required to finance to offset pollution.
On BBC Radio, Tony Juniper, Chairman of Natural England said: “We’re delighted to see the approach of the new government in setting out the ambition of doing both nature recovery and house building rather than trying to choose between the two. If we are serious about achieving nature recovery, we can’t diminish the protections. But what we can do is achieve those protections and go beyond them in ways that are quicker and more efficient.”