House building pollution mitigation efforts receive £47m boost
A £47 million Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will allow tens of thousands of new homes to not come at the expense of the environment, the government has announced.
The Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will boost housebuilding through locally led schemes, such as creating new wetlands and upgrading septic tanks, to ensure development is sustainable.
Furthermore, 20 of the largest sites impacted by nutrient neutrality will each receive a further £100,000 to support planning teams who will implement pollution solutions across the area.
Thanks to government funding and partnership work, the work will focus on unlocking stalled homes across England.
Seven councils in England will benefit from the work, which will unlock stalled homes with building work expected to start shortly and it is in line with the government’s plan to deliver 1.5 million homes in this parliament.
“We must build more homes across the country and unlock growth, but this must not come at the expense of our natural environment,” says housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook.
“Through this fund and alongside major reforms to the planning system, we will accelerate housebuilding and deliver nature recovery, creating a win-win outcome for both the economy and for nature.”
Nutrient pollution can see increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous damage natural habitats and harming wildlife.
This in turn can impact housebuilding in areas where the waterways are affected by excess nutrient pollution.
The full list of areas to benefit is: Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum, River Axe, the Solent, River Wye, River Mease, River Lambourn and the River Eden, River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake, River Kent and Esthwaite Water Catchment.
Elsewhere, the government have also announced funding to help boost the regeneration of Liverpool’s historic northern docklands.