House builders claim 120,000 new homes being delayed by nutrient neutrality rules
House builders are urging the government to rethink environmental guidance after claiming that around 120,000 new homes are being delayed by nutrient pollution rules that “significantly” overestimate the impact of new developments.
A total of 74 local authorities are now covered by government nutrient neutrality advice, which means projects should go ahead only if they will not cause additional pollution to sites. An extra 42 councils were added to the rules by government body Natural England in March this year.
Natural England’s nutrient neutrality advice to councils includes an assumption that each new home will increase the population in the catchment by 2.4 persons.
However, a new report by Lichfields, prepared for the Home Builders Federation (HBF), said that most new housing caters for the existing population living in a catchment, not new people moving into the area.
READ MORE
Gareth Williams, a senior director at Lichfields, said the methodology has two major “failings”.
He said: “It fails to recognise that a significant proportion of these new homes are to meet the requirement of existing residents so have no impact on overall population, and secondly they then apply an average household size that overestimates future population.”
The issue of nutrient neutrality has risen up the agenda because of concern about the impacts of the discharge of nutrients on sensitive protected habitats and bird species.
Mr Williams added: “It is important that the issue of water quality is addressed but the response must target the primary causes and be proportionate in its approach.”
The report said: “We recommend that the nutrient calculator should be amended to adopt a more sensitive assessment of population change.”
James Stevens, director for cities at the HBF, said the current approach “does not reflect the minor contribution of housing development to the issue”.
He added: “We are urging the government to work with us to agree a proportionate and sustainable solution to ensure housebuilding can resume in the areas concerned.”
The government has an official target to be delivering 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. But housing secretary Michael Gove suggested that it could be distancing itself from that target after saying the government does not want to be wedded to that target.
Natural England has been contacted for comment.
Sign up for our development and finance newsletter
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters
