Forty-two local authorities in England were informed last month that they needed to ensure new homes were “nutrient-neutral” and did not add harmful nitrates or phosphates to river basins and protected areas, such as the Eden Valley in Cumbria. the Camel River in Cornwall and the Norfolk Broads. In these areas – near protected sites such as Special Conservation Areas (SACs) – design authorities are unable to allow new applications for any type of home until developers demonstrate that they do not add nutrient pollution. Natural England, the government’s conservation overseer, has already asked developers in 32 local authorities to prove that they do not cause additional pollution at protected sites following the 2018 court ruling on the protection of EU-designated conservation areas. . Nutrient pollution causes algae to thrive, depleting oxygen in the water, killing fish and harming other aquatic animals. Agriculture is the main cause of excess nutrients leaching into rivers and wetlands along with discharges from overloaded sewers, but rainwater running from the streets and new developments can also increase pollution. The Housing Federation estimates that up to 120,000 new homes have been delayed due to “nutrition neutrality” rules in 74 local government areas, with 42,000 new homes being delayed in the wider Norwich area alone. In some areas, such as Solent, mitigation measures have been put in place, allowing developers to buy nitrate credits from landowners, including environmental charities, who use the money to revitalize farms or create wetlands that absorb water. catchment area. However, many local councils complain that they have not received sufficient notice to allow new developments to continue, so they are unable to meet their mandatory new housing targets. In Norfolk, mitigation programs have not yet been put in place, with all development without a full town planning permit halted within the Broads and Wensum river basins, which contain harmful levels of nutrient pollution. The government’s call for “nitrate neutrality” was welcomed by Rosie Pearson, chair of the Community Planning Alliance, a group of grassroots campaigns for sustainable development. “It is wonderful to see a rare example where the public protection system is doing the right thing,” he said. “But with councils committing to their five-year housing targets and a government department saying, ‘Build, build, build,’ then Natural England and Defra go, ‘You can not build, you are damaging the environment.’ it’s a complete mess. “ Reducing nutrient pollution by creating new wetlands was “a sticky plaster,” according to Pearson. “All these wetlands will be created that will be wonderful for nature, but the government is constantly ignoring the underlying problem, which is the sewerage system.” Builders warn that the measures could cost developers. Up to £ 5,000 per house and financial homes and townhouses will be delayed. A study in Somerset found that the urban environment contributes 4% of nutrient pollution, with the vast majority being caused by agriculture and sewage. James Stevens, city director at the Builders Federation, said: “Developing a consistent and standardized approach to water neutralization is essential to removing the growing blockchain that is causing the supply of housing. “We call on the government to agree on proportionate measures that reflect the contribution of home delivery to the issue without delay. “The situation has been going on for several years now and there is an urgent need to agree and implement urgent solutions.” In Solent, where nutrient neutrality rules began in 2018, it took 18 months to set up mitigation sites, but Natural England said it would be much faster for the 42 new local authorities because there was a nutrient calculator and 100 100,000 funding. to help city councils and developers find solutions. In South Hampshire, nutrient credit purchased by developers has allowed more than 3,000 new nutrient-neutral homes to be built. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) used credit to buy two 450-acre farms in the Solent Basin, restoring intensively fertilized soils that were polluting by nutrients as well as restoring more biodiversity the funds. “It works,” said Debbie Tann, chief executive of HIWWT. “It means that growth is able to mitigate its impact, but it is really important to recognize that the pollution in Solent is terrible and that alone is not going to clean it up. What we really have to deal with is agriculture, fertilizer reduction and water companies have to deal with sewage disposal. “This is a good step from Natural England, but we need the government to step up the other issues.” Melanie Hughes, director of sustainable development at Natural England, said all affected protected wetlands were in “unfavorable” condition due to nutrient contamination, such as stinking algae mats covering the salty swamp in Solent, which prevent birds from feeding. in the mud. “We can not continue to pollute these areas – this is the line that has been drawn,” he said. “We are pleased to use nature-based solutions to help solve the problem, which have much broader benefits.”
