Nutrient neutrality holding up homes

Britain’s housing shortage is being exacerbated by red tape relating to the levels of nutrients in waterways, according to the Home Builders Federation. Councils have halted plans for more than 100,000 properties because of guidance requiring authorities to limit the pollution caused by residential developments. Natural England, a government agency, issued its “nutrient neutrality” guidance to 74 English councils where substances such as phosphates and sulphates were judged to be at dangerous levels. The advice encourages councils to limit development on protected sites to prevent damage to habitats. The HBF has warned that the guidance is hampering the government from meeting a 2019 election pledge to build 300,000 new homes in England every year by 2025. David O’Leary, policy director at the HBF, said Natural England’s advice had “mushroomed into something they now can’t keep hold of”. He said it had resulted in larger developers halting projects in areas most affected by housing shortages and looking elsewhere for land they could more easily develop. The guidance was prompted by a European Court of Justice ruling in 2018 that adding nutrients to soil already in poor condition would be unlawful. The Times (£) The FT (£) Photo: Richard Gardner/Shutterstock