拢47 million to unlock 28,000 nutrient neutrality stalled homes
Tens of thousands of new homes will be delivered across England, thanks to government funding and partnership work, to unlock stalled homes across England.
- Government funding boost will help build more homes whilst crucially protecting the environment and waterways.
- Seven councils in England to benefit, with building work expected to start shortly.
- Supporting the government鈥檚 plan to deliver 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.
Tens of thousands of new homes will be delivered across England, thanks to government funding and partnership work, to unlock stalled homes across England, and support our ambition to build 1.5 million homes.
Crucially, the will ensure building the homes we need will not come at the expense of the environment, with the 拢47 million boost being used to protect local rivers and precious habitats.听听
As part of the government鈥檚 plans to get Britain building again, the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will boost housebuilding鈥痶hrough locally led schemes, such as creating new wetlands and upgrading septic tanks, to enable development is sustainable.鈥�
Seven areas across the country will benefit from a share of 拢45 million to unblock stalled housing, help more families on to the property ladder and deliver improvements to the natural environment.听
Twenty of the largest sites impacted by nutrient neutrality will each receive a further 拢100,000 to support planning teams who will implement pollution solutions across the local area.听
Nutrient pollution is an urgent problem in areas across England, with increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous damaging natural habitats and harming wildlife. This can impact housebuilding in areas where the waterways are affected by excess nutrient pollution. The government recognises the need to protect these habitats and clean up our water while delivering the homes this country needs.听
More widely, and in addition to this new funding, the government has begun the work of cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas. They are putting water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, which will strengthen regulation including new powers to ban the payment of听bonuses听for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.
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The government are also carrying out an Independent Water Commission to shape further legislation that will transform how our water system works and clean up rivers, lakes and seas for good.
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:鈥���
鈥淲e must build more homes across the country and unlock growth, but this must not come at the expense of our natural environment.听听
鈥淭hrough 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.鈥澨�
Environment Minister Mary Creagh said:
鈥淏ritain faces a housing and nature crisis.
鈥淭his new Government was elected with a mandate to get Britain building again and restore nature. That is why we will deliver a planning system that unlocks the building of homes and improves outcomes for nature.鈥�
The areas to benefit from the funding are:鈥�
- Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum: 拢8.8 million听to unlock over 5000 new homes听
- River Axe: 拢4 million听to unlock around 1000 new homes听
- The Solent: nearly 拢7 million听to unlock over 2700 new homes听
- River Wye: over 拢2.7 million听to unlock over 3000 new homes听
- River Mease:鈥痮ver 拢2.5 million听to unlock over 700 new homes 听
- River Lambourn:鈥痮ver 拢2.4 million听to unlock over 800 new homes听
- River Eden, River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake, River Kent and Esthwaite Water Catchment:听over 拢15 million to unlock over 13,000 new homes听
To accelerate housing development and achieve the ambition to build 1.5 million homes, the government has already:鈥�
- Announced an overhaul of the planning system through a consultation on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, including new mandatory housebuilding targets for councils:听
- Launched a New Homes Accelerator group to unblock thousands of new homes stuck in the planning system or partially built.听听
- Introduced 鈥榖rownfield passports鈥� to ensure where planning proposals meet design and quality standards, the default answer to planning permission is yes:
- Set up an independent New Towns Taskforce, as part of a long-term vision to create largescale communities of at least 10,000 new homes each:
- Awarded 拢68 million to 54 local councils to unlock housing on brownfield sites:
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