Sunak scraps EU water pollution law to increase housing development
The government has reformed EU laws on nutrient neutrality have been reformed to ease housing development and “deliver homes for local communities while protecting the environment”.
In June, the government released a policy paper claiming that these EU laws were “impacting permissions for development and slowing down housing delivery across 74 local planning authorities”. In some cases, planning permission has been granted in these areas but has been delayed due to these laws. The 74 areas subject to these laws are “protected sites” due to their sensitive habitats, proximity to reivers and waterways, and access to nature and wildlife.
But by amending the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, the government claims that new environmental measures will continue to “tackle pollution at source and restore habitats” while “[doing] away” with the “red tape” of the EU nutrient neutrality laws and “allow for the delivery of more than 100,000 new homes”.
The government announced yesterday that “over 100,000 homes held up due to defective EU laws will be unblocked between now and 2030, delivering an estimated £18 billion boost to the economy”.
The government claims that:
- Natural England will work with local authorities, the private sector and others to tackle nutrient pollution and work towards the long term health and resilience of the river systems
- work with the house building industry to ensure that larger developers make an appropriate and fair contribution to this scheme
- accelerate work on full site restoration through further work on new Protected Site Strategies, which Natural England will draw up in partnership with local communities
- Reducing nutrients entering the water from new development with new laws expected to drive significant investment from water companies to upgrade wastewater treatment works to the highest technical standards by 2030
- Reducing nutrient run off into our rivers from farms – supporting our farmers by investing £200m in grants for improved slurry storage infrastructure
- Investing £25m to drive innovation to help farmers manage plant and soil nutrients
Michael Gove also claimed the building of these homes will reduce pollution – but as yet hasn’t specified how that will be the case.
Many have claimed that the extra cost and funding will be supported by taxpayers rather than the government, and climate activists and members of affected communities are concerned about the lack of concern for the environment and the damage this will have on many of the UK’s already-polluted rivers.
For many right-wing outlets, this announcement also became an opportunity for another embittered fight for Brexit and anti-EU sentiment.
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Ditching a flawed EU rule will give aspiring homeowners the chance to create a legacy
- The Telegraph also ran an article called, “Ten water companies paid no tax last year despite some releasing sewage”, which calls into question the government’s claim that water companies can be expected to safely ensure the reduction in water pollution
Michael Gove loosens river pollution rules to boost housebuilding
