Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2020. It was answered by Christopher Pincher (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Welsh Water: Herefordshire

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to penalise Herefordshire council for enabling Welsh Water to restrict housing development.

Answer: Nutrient enrichment is a significant pressure on many of our most important natural habitats, and it is the role of Herefordshire Council as a competent authority to determine whether proposals for new development would cause a significant adverse impact on these habitats sites, including the River Wye. Where development can demonstrate that no such impact would occur, for example through achieving nutrient neutrality and therefore not increasing existing pollution levels, the Council may grant planning permission. It is important to keep the planning system moving as much as we can, so that it is able to play its full part in the economic recovery to come, at both national and local levels, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

As set out in by the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs in his speech on 20 July, later this autumn we will be launching a new consultation on changing our approach to environmental assessment and mitigation in the planning system

Secondary information