Natural England has admitted pollution from new developments is “very small”, despite ordering the halt of 120,000 new homes in the interests of “nutrient neutrality”.
Last year, Natural England extended guidance to 74 councils that led planners to block new homes unless developers could prove they would not pollute water courses. Homebuilders claimed they had been unfairly targeted, given that 96% of pollutants come from existing homes and farmers.
Alan Law, deputy chief executive of Natural England, admitted: “The proportion of pollution arising from new housing stock is very small but the question being asked from us is, ‘Is it OK to take an already polluted system, and make it worse?’ It’s not, ‘Is the new development more polluting than existing homes or the existing agriculture?’ and the legal framework is clear.”
He added the Environment Agency was largely responsible for regulating farming, leaving Natural England with limited powers to change farmers’ behaviour.
The Home Builders Federation has called for water companies to be forced to pay to upgrade sewage treatment plants and for farmers’ handling of animal manure and fertiliser to be more tightly regulated.
