When Sam Stafford introduced Episode 38 of the 50 Shades of Planning Podcast on nutrient neutrality he described the topic of eutrophication as a bit like the podcast itself. A little niche, but very important. Since then, February 2021, whilst the podcast remains a little niche, the nutrient neutrality issue has very much broken into the mainstream of planning consciousness.

Sam and his guests in Episode 38 spoke for the most part about the Solent, which was the first SPA within which Natural England recommended that LPAs withhold planning permission unless negative impacts of development can be ruled out completely. In March this year, 2022, Natural England announced that a further 20 catchments covering 42 additional local authorities were also subject to the restriction, which brings to a total of 27, the number of catchments, and 74, the number of LPAs, that are now subject to the restrictions.

The HBF has calculated that at least 100,000 homes are currently delayed because of the nutrients issue.

A further eighteen months on Sam revisits the questions posed in Episode 38. What has the impact of this issue been? How far away is a satisfactory resolution in those parts of the country that have been affected? And, with change afoot for both the post-Brexit environmental assessment regime and the planning system more broadly, what lessons can be drawn for planning at the scale of a river catchment?

Sam's guests in this episode are:

• Marian Cameron, Director, Marian Cameron Consultants Ltd;
• Max Tant, Flood Risk Manager, Kent County Council;
• Rachel Jones, Ecology Manager & Senior Nutrient Project Officer, Wiltshire Council; and
• Simon Packer, Director, Turley

 Some accompanying reading

George Eustice’s WMS

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plan-to-reduce-water-pollution

July's Chief Planner Letter

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093278/Chief_Planner_Letter_with_Nutrient_Neutrality_and_HRA_Update_-_July_2022.pdf

How a Tesco chicken deal may have helped pollute one of the UK’s favourite rivers

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/14/tesco-chicken-deal-uk-favourite-river-wye-pollution

Truss vows to ditch nutrient neutrality rules

https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/truss-vows-to-ditch-nutrient-neutrality-rules/5118915.article

Achieving nutrient neutrality for new housing development – The economic impact of the under-delivery of housing.

https://www.hbf.co.uk/news/report-achieving-nutrient-neutrality-new-housing-development-economic-impact-under-delivery-housing/

New report finds Natural England significantly over estimates the impact of new housing development on nutrient pollution.

https://www.hbf.co.uk/news/new-report-finds-natural-england-significantly-overestimates-impact-new-housing-development-nutrient-pollution/

 Some accompanying listening.

 Episode 38 – Neutral Impact

https://pod.co/50-shades-of-planning/neutral-impact

Dirty Water by The Jesus & Mary Chain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na85WcMSqjo

50 Shades T-Shirts!

If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning Podcast you will have heard Clive Betts say that...

'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'.

Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2021/07/50-shades-of-planning-t-shirts.html