EU-era water pollution restrictions for housing developments are to be scrapped in a bid to build more homes, the government has announced. Up to 100,000 new homes could be built by 2030 if rules around building houses near waterways in protected areas are loosened, the government said. Ministers argue water pollution from new homes is “very small” and will be offset by £280m of investment.
Environmental groups described the move as “disgraceful”. The change will lead to “lots more poo in our rivers” and “not solve root causes of housing problem,” Wildlife Trust chief executive Craig Bennett said.
Labour’s shadow housing secretary Lisa Nandy said: “With housebuilding projected to fall to the lowest level since World War Two and our rivers full of sewage, the Conservatives are failing on both housing and the environment.”
And Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Our rivers and our seas need more protection, not less”.
Water pollution became a highly politicised issue over the summer, with the Liberal Democrats accusing water firms in England and Wales of failing to reveal how much sewage was being pumped into rivers, lakes and coastlines.
We don’t need more pollution of rivers, no matter how small - we need considerably less: