UK to ease EU era water pollution restrictions for new homes

THE government on Tuesday (29) said that it would ease EU era water pollution restrictions to boost housebuilding.

The so-called “nutrient neutrality” rules in place were designed to ensure a new development does not add harmful nutrients to nearby waterways.

“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,” ministers said.

Britain, which withdrew from the EU at the end of January in 2020, also said it would double investment in its nutrient mitigation scheme to £280 million “to offset the very small amount of additional nutrient discharge” from the construction of the new homes.

“I want to see more homes built,” the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said on X, formerly Twitter. “But sometimes hangover EU laws get in the way. It’s not right.”

The changes are proposed in an amendment to a bill currently going through parliament.

The government’s move angered green campaigners.

“Who would look at our sewage-infested rivers and conclude what they need is weaker pollution rules? No one, and that should include our government,” said Doug Parr, policy director at Greenpeace UK.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said it was a “disgraceful move which undermines public trust in the government”.