River Wensum and Norfolk Broads Planning Permission

Nutrient neutrality is the requirement that in certain areas new housing builds should not contribute more nutrient pollution to the waters. Following reports that nutrient pollution needs to be monitored in Norfolk, planning permissions have been paused for new homes within the catchment area of the Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum. This applies to any new and existing planning proposals in this area and has been issued by letter from Government Advisors, Natural England who have concerns about the protected habitat sites and species that live in the area.  The Broads Authority details how “the Broads is an internationally important wetland and home to more than a quarter of the UK’s rarest species.” Home to birds such as marsh harriers, teals and sedge warblers as well as fish such as perch and pike and animals such as shrews and otters. Nitrogens and phosphates, which are excess nutrients make it more difficult for aquatic species to survive due to how these reduce oxygen in the water. How is this affecting the industry?  It is important to secure the welfare of environments such as the River Wensum and the Norfolk Broads, but this ban on housing production is having a knock-on effect on the construction industry. The stopping of planning permission has meant that smaller construction companies, including family-run businesses, are being hit hard. They are having to look at ways to muddle through this dry span. Some have no other choice but to let members of their team go and some are even having to close for business altogether.  A lot of these construction companies are not only producing new builds for families but also for the elderly who are looking to live independently. Yahoo News reported that “the building of thousands of new Norfolk homes for older people with social care needs has been held up by the limbo blocking new housing.” These houses were being built with the intention that the elderly could live independently and have access to social care needs simultaneously. To help overcrowding of retirement homes and to stop the reported build-up in hospital beds.  How can planning permission continue? This ban only applies to protected sites that are already in disadvantageous conditions because of nutrient pollution, such as The Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum. So if your development site falls out of this catchment area planning permissions should be able to continue. There are ways that developers can still get the planning permission needed. Finding a way to offset any extra nutrients such as washing machine water or sewage that may end up in the waterways would be the only way new housing could be permitted. Norfolk Environmental Credits is a not-for-profit company set up to help property developers reduce their nutrient load by building sustainably. They have said that “property developers in impacted areas must meet Nutrient Neutrality standards by law. Buying Norfolk Environmental Credits will address your nutrient requirements”. Norfolk Environmental Credits has created a budget calculator so that developers can calculate the amount of nutrient loads their new development will create. This calculator will then determine how many credits the company will need to purchase to “ensure there is no detrimental impact on phosphorus and nitrogen levels in Norfolk rivers.” Businesses must register their interest in purchasing credits and they will be updated as and when credits become available. This scheme is intended to benefit small and medium developments that will struggle to provide their mitigation on-site. At Rockthorn, we provide plant hire across Norfolk and are committed to supporting local projects. We hope that this article can help educate businesses on how to seek help during this time. For more information on this subject visit Norfolk Environmental Credits to see how they can help with any property planning you are currently undergoing.  Sources: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/homes-older-people-blocked-pollution-090000120.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJRoUUNRotnub7gKcudvzJIh-chsteI1-_tmws0kLYwxtiQ2zJnHFZuL3ldoYEd57voXTkGoQxa0xFL–FhUKZtvMyM0Rpo5n-Vc8UosbYMRDvCrs3VAkqhM34jX1jkLHHYZ9FCpOmiQRmMFGLybd2djUxeRpviFp6el-4FLOkOn https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/planning/planning-permission/broads-planning-guides/river-bank-stabilisation/landscape-and-wildlife#:~:text=Within%20the%20Broads%20are%20the,24%25%20of%20the%20executive%20area. https://www.norfolkenvironmentalcredits.co.uk/