The Housebuilding Green Light That May Darken Our Rivers

This entry was posted on 14th September, 2023 by Anna Cooper

The government's decision to ease river protection rules surrounding nutrient neutrality benefits housebuilders but harms the environment.

What does nutrient neutrality mean?

It's making sure that a new development or building doesn't increase the current level of nutrients in an area. With nutrient neutrality rules it means that nothing extra is added to the environment because of the project.

The rules set in 2017 aimed to protect rivers from harmful nutrients like phosphates and nitrates. These guidelines advised local councils against approving new developments that might increase river pollutants, whether from wastewater in new homes or drainage from construction areas.

The relaxation of the nutrient neutrality rules raises concerns for the protection of the surrounding wildlife.

Why are Nutrient Neutrality Rules Changing?

Housebuilders intensely appealed for this change in policy, citing figures on unbuilt houses to challenge the regulations. The current nutrient neutrality requirements on developers, Home Builders Federation (HBF) is said to be holding up at least 145,000 homes.

However, the ENDS Report suggests these figures are imprecise. The House Builders Federation, which provided these figures, confessed to the ENDS Report that their data are merely estimates and refining them would take considerable time.

Why Anglers Should Be Concerned

Recent moves by the government to relax regulations around our rivers could directly affect the health of the fish populations and the quality of our fishing spots.

The relaxed nutrient neutrality rules mean healthier rivers, clearer waters, and thriving fish populations are suddenly at more risk. Local councils could greenlight developments that could introduce pollutants, detrimental not just to aquatic life but directly impacting the quality of angling experiences.

For builders passionate about angling, the government's decision to relax regulations safeguarding our rivers by reducing nutrient neutrality strictness presents a conundrum. On one hand, it simplifies certain building processes. On the other, the environment may suffer dire consequences.

Natural England found that around 27 protected areas, spanning from Cumbria to Devon and Norfolk to Shropshire, are at risk. These areas can't handle additional nutrient overload without harming their native habitats and species.

Thus, for new homes in these regions, they must show "Nutrient Neutrality" in their plans, ensuring they balance out any pollution they might cause, to get approved.

Voices from the Angling Trust

Martin Salter, a policy lead from the Angling Trust, emphasised the importance of anglers:

“Politics is about choices and the government have chosen to side with the polluters rather than maintain vital protections for our beleaguered rivers and watercourses.

Of course, if they were actually serious about their pledge to be ‘the greenest government ever’ our woefully inadequate sewage treatment works would have already been upgraded and would be more than capable of processing the additional flows from new housing schemes to a standard acceptable in a modern country.”

The Domino Effect on Fishing

The government announced reduced river protections but offered farmers and housebuilders money to counteract pollution.

This issue is that the strong rules made developers follow the law. With an offer of funding, the protection of our environment isn't guaranteed. This is particularly prudent with the ongoing financial concerns for farmers and housebuilders through the cost of living crisis.

While funding for farmers and housebuilders may seem like a solution, the inconsistency of these proposals may lead to long-term damage, directly affecting anglers and other water users.

Oliver Harper, keen angler and Marketing Head at Angling Direct ...

The Role of Housebuilders: Beyond Construction

While housebuilders argue for their right to build, it's essential for anglers to understand and voice the broader implications of unregulated constructions.

It's not just about the houses – it's about the potential decrease in fish populations, the potential loss of favourite fishing spots, and the potential decline in the overall quality of the angling experience.

Stuart Singleton-White, Head of Campaigns at the Angling Trust, said:

“This is no way to make policy changes. This government promised us in May, June, and July that they would not lower environmental protections. Now they have done exactly that…This poorly thought out ‘charter to pollute’ announcement will sweep away the progress being made.”

These comments from Singleton-White surface from the previous plans from Green Agri Land Ltd. A company specialising in nutrient control for housebuilders had already set plans to reduce pollution for around 70,000 homes.

With the current nutrient neutrality laws, things are improving. Programs that benefit nature are being rolled out nationwide. The laws support farmers and protect our beloved areas from pollution.

Nutrient neutrality doesn't completely stop new developments, and measures to speed things up are showing results. However, the UK government's plans could permanently damage environmental safeguards.

Katie-Jo Luxton, RSPB's director of conservation, warns what the changes to Nutrient Neutrality could mean.

“We urgently need to tackle the issue of nutrient pollution in our rivers and there are plenty of cost-effective measures to do so, not least enforcing the existing environmental and agricultural regulations.

Without Nutrient Neutrality, commitments in the Environment Act and the Plan for Water cannot be met.”

Anglers: It's Time to Advocate

For those of us who look forward to those quiet moments by the river, casting a line and waiting for that exhilarating tug, this is our call to action.

Our fishing spots, our passion, and our pastime are at risk. Join the conversation, understand the implications, and let's ensure our rivers remain pristine for the next generation of anglers.

By emphasising the direct effects on the angling experience and placing the angler at the heart of the conversation, we seek to highlight the personal importance of the issue.

Learn more about Environmental Changes that are impacting Angling...