Nutrient neutrality rules ensure that developments in designated areas can be approved only once suitable measures are in place to counteract an increase in pollution of our rivers from the new housing.  Nitrate pollution is caused by various factors including sewage systems, so waste water produced by new housing contributes to the general deterioration of water quality which is harmful to fish species, plant life and humans. (read more in our blog here) 

Georgia Stokes, Chief Executive, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Chair of the Somerset Local Nature Partnership said:

“Nutrient pollution, such as phosphates, is causing massive harm to the UK’s rivers and waterways. Our precious rivers and coastal areas are facing untenable levels of pollution from agriculture, industry, and domestic waste, with only 15% in good ecological status. The situation is acute here on the Somerset Levels.  In May 2021 Natural England informed landowners including Somerset Wildlife Trust that they were changing the condition status of the SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) on the Somerset Levels and Moors to ‘Unfavourable – declining’ (the worst status before ‘destroyed’) due to poor water quality, including high levels of phosphates.

It is vital that we continue to implement nutrient neutrality schemes which provide cost-effective ways to unlock housebuilding while also mitigating the environmental impact of new developments – and those methods have the added benefit of helping people, communities, and nature too. We also need urgent effective action to reduce the overall nutrient load in places like the Levels and Moors. Reports that the Government has plans to remove the nutrient neutrality requirement for new developments is hugely concerning, and waiting for the delivery of long-term promises of changes to agriculture policy or the installation of upgraded water treatment facilities is not acceptable, we all need to take action now if we are serious about helping nature to recover."

Currently, England’s most fragile rivers have some protection under the Habitats Regulations. These rules have led to a requirement for “nutrient neutrality” which means a new housing development in a river catchment must not result in an increase of damaging phosphates and other nutrients into the river. 

Developers are currently required to invest in new wetlands and other measures such as planting trees to create buffer zones in order to achieve this target of ensuring that no additional pressure is put on waterways that are already suffering from an overload of farm slurry and sewage. 

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says: 

“In May, June and July, the Government made promises to the British people and to Parliament that they would not lower environmental protections or standards.* But just a few weeks later they are planning to do precisely the opposite. They lied – this is a disgraceful move which undermines public trust in this Government. 

“Make no mistake – this is a license from the Government for the commercial housebuilding lobby to profit from the pollution of our rivers. Vague offers of money as compensation are not the same as a legislative requirement – and even the existing rules are extremely modest. 

“The UK is ranked as one of the worst countries in Europe for water quality and the public are rightly outraged at our rivers being used as open sewers by water companies. Scrapping the rules that are merely trying to stop rivers becoming even more polluted will allow vested interests to make more money at the expense of our rivers and the natural environment.   

“The Government has made repeated pledges that they won’t weaken environmental standards and committed just 8 months ago to halve nutrient pollution by the end of the decade. This is another broken promise and makes clear that the Prime Minister would rather look after the interests of developers than the environment – money talks.  

“These rules are about preventing pollution, not housing. Piling on pollution from developers into rivers already suffocating from poo and agriculture pollution, will only mean greater pressure is put on farmers to make bigger and faster cuts to nutrient pollution.”