Thousands of new homes for Norfolk

Areas of Norfolk are to benefit from government funding and partnership work to unlock stalled homes across England.

Properties close to the Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum will benefit from £8.8 million to unlock over 5,000 new homes, according to the government.

As part of the government’s plans to get Britain building again, the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will boost housebuilding through locally led schemes, such as creating new wetlands and upgrading septic tanks, to enable development is sustainable. 

Seven areas across the country will benefit from a share of £45 million to unblock stalled housing, help more families on to the property ladder and deliver improvements to the natural environment.

Twenty of the largest sites impacted by nutrient neutrality will each receive a further £100,000 to support planning teams who will implement pollution solutions across the local area.

Nutrient pollution is an urgent problem in areas across England, with increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous damaging natural habitats and harming wildlife.

This can impact housebuilding in areas where the waterways are affected by excess nutrient pollution and has caused developments and projects to stall.

The government, which has pledged an ambition to build 1.5 million homes, says it recognises the need to protect these habitats and clean up water while delivering the homes this country needs.

More widely, and in addition to this new funding, the government has begun the work of cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas.

They are putting water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, which aims to strengthen regulation including new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

The government is also carrying out an Independent Water Commission to shape further legislation that hopes to transform how the water system works and clean up rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said:  “We must build more homes across the country and unlock growth, but this must not come at the expense of our natural environment.

“Through this fund and alongside major reforms to the planning system, we will accelerate housebuilding and deliver nature recovery, creating a win-win outcome for both the economy and for nature.”