Rising river pollution ‘could trigger ban on building 20,000 homes’

ABOUT 20,000 new homes a year will not be able to be built unless developers and councils can prove they will produce no additional pollution, according to analysis from the Local Government Association.

The LGA, which represents councils across England, said the numbers of homes prevented from being built could hit 100,000 in the coming years without solutions to tackle pollution.

LGA environment spokesperson Coun David Renard said: “Councils want safe, clean, thriving natural environments alongside the sustainable development of housing, growth and jobs.

“It is concerning and frustrating that pollution levels in some rivers have reached a point to trigger bans on building around 20,000 new homes each year, over seven per cent of all England’s likely new housebuilding.”

The LGA said its research highlighted the need to protect special habitats but said limiting new developments alone will not be enough to improve the state of English rivers because the majority of pollution is caused by agriculture and water companies.

Councils want to work with the Government, water companies and farmers to reduce pollution to levels required by the Habitats Directive law, which was established to protect nature and biodiversity. Coun Renard added: “People need homes, schools and doctors’ surgeries, and people also need a safe and clean environment.

“Councils are working tirelessly to enable house building while upholding high environmental standards. However, they cannot achieve this alone. We need to reduce pollution at source, which predominantly originates from water treatment and farming.

“The Government and its agencies, house builders, the agricultural sector and water companies must all come together with councils to find short-term solutions while doing everything we can to reduce pollution at source.”