Environmental groups critical of housing levy idea

Environmental groups have criticised a pilot scheme that aims to make housing developers pay a new nature levy.

The government wants parts of Norfolk to be the first areas subject to its Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP).

In order to unlock space for thousands of homes, developers would pay money that could create new wetlands, fund deer culls and restore rivers.

But ecology experts fear that it would fail to tackle the sources of pollution, leaving vulnerable chalk streams still at risk.

Sally Haines, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, said: "While [actions outlined in the plan] would improve ecological habitats in the area, they won't necessarily address the pollution that will be going into the water.

"Unless you do that, you are not going to get good nature recovery."

Campaigners worry about the health of the River Wensum, one of Norfolk's chalk rivers [Owen Sennitt/BBC]

The EDP, which would apply to much of central Norfolk and parts of The Broads, would pool cash from housebuilders.

It would be spent on measures to help offset pollution from new homes.

Norfolk's rare chalk streams, often described as England's rainforests, are particularly vulnerable.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle calls it a "win-win" for development and nature, claiming it would unlock space for 15,780 homes that are currently stalled because of rules protecting rivers.

With developers paying £2,675 per house, it is hoped the levy will raise about £42m.

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The scheme is designed to replace the more complicated nutrient neutrality rules that are in place, which were blamed for blocking the regeneration plan for the former Colman's Mustard Factory at Carrow Works in Norwich.

A government spokesperson said the introduction of a single levy would make life easier for developers.

Natural England is leading on the project and chief executive Marian Spain said: "Instead of tackling pollution piecemeal, site by site, we can now deliver conservation measures that make a real difference for rivers, wetlands and wildlife across Norfolk."

However, Haines said it was a "fallacy" to blame environmental concerns as the main stumbling block when building houses - pointing instead to a myriad of issues such as the availability of materials and labour, and land prices.

Under the proposals, restoration projects would be put together for the River Wensum, the Bure broads and marshes, and the River Yare catchment area.

One eye-catching policy is to put some of the cash towards deer management, including targeted culling.

Booming deer populations in The Broads are becoming a growing issue as the animals can cause damage to the environment through grazing.

People can submit their views as part of a consultation - which opened on 17 September and runs until 27 October - before Natural England submits its final plans to Eagle and her department.

Natural England hopes to roll out EDPs in other parts of England in the future.

Eliot Lyne, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's chief executive, worries planning rules will harm nature [Shaun Whitmore/BBC]

The chief executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Eliot Lyne, said his organisation needed more time to review the proposals.

But he said it was worried about wider changes to planning rules and how they affected natural habitats.

"We are concerned that it weakens existing protections for Norfolk's nationally and globally important wildlife sites such as chalk streams, wetlands and valley fens," he added.

Mark Dye, a chalk stream campaigner for the Gaywood River Revival group in west Norfolk, said: "Fundamentally, if you are polluting a chalk stream or a river and you're putting more and more pollution into that river, and not seeking to address the underlying causes of that, then it's only going to get worse."

Steve Turner, executive director of the Home Builders Federation, claimed pollution from farmers was a bigger issue than new homes and he criticised water companies for not investing in infrastructure to stop sewage entering rivers.

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Department for Environment and Rural Affairs