The secretary of state for housing blamed Labour for 鈥渢hwarting鈥� his bid to tackle nutrient rules blocking development
Michael Gove has confirmed there is no hope of scrapping the nutrient neutrality laws believed to be blocking the construction of 100,00 homes before the next election.
The housing secretary blamed Labour for the fact that the government was 鈥渋ncapable of bringing forward legislation鈥� that would having 鈥渦nlocked 100,000 new homes鈥�.
The current nutrient neutrality rules require that housing developments in specified areas do not add to pollution of waterways with nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphates.
Gove told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in October that he wanted the rules to be scrapped 鈥渁t the first available opportunity鈥� and indicated he would bring back a bill to parliament in order to do it.
But , Gove confirmed the current government would make no further bid to tackle nutrient rules before a general election.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to do everything I can to make sure that that commitment is in our manifesto,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd when we win the next election I hope that we will be able to introduce that legislation.鈥�
The government鈥檚 original plan was to amend the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to allow housebuilders to effectively ignore evidence of nutrient pollution from housing development sites. But this was after Labour peers joined a revolt against the plan.
Gove said Labour was 鈥渄etermined to thwart that legislation鈥� which he described as 鈥渄eeply disappointing.鈥�
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He added: 鈥淚 ask Labour to show a similar level of ambition in putting legislation like that in their manifesto but I have very low expectations.鈥�
Angela Rayner, Labour鈥檚 deputy leader and shadow housing secretary, vowed to reverse the government鈥檚 changes to the NPPF, including watering down local housing targets.
鈥淢ichael Gove鈥檚 latest announcement is truly through the looking glass,鈥� Rayner said.
鈥淟abour is prepared to take the tough choices, jump-starting the planning system to get spades in the ground and deliver 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament. Our housing recovery plan will deliver the new homes our country desperately needs.鈥�
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