The government has lost its bid to relax rules around the pollution of waterways after a rebellion in the Lords.
Michael Gove unveiled the plan last month, saying scrapping so-called “nutrient neutrality” measures would free up developers and lead to thousands more homes being built in England.
But the Tory amendment introduced in the Lords – which would have seen the policy tagged on to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill – was rejected by peers over the risk it would pose to the environment.
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Nutrient neutrality rules were introduced across the EU back in 2017, designed to stop developers polluting local wetlands and waterways in protected areas when building homes.
In practice, it means companies have to show how they will prevent or offset that pollution in order to win planning permission.
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