Seven councils to receive £47 million nutrient funding

Seven English councils will receive a share of the £47 million funding announced in the Budget to unblock developments stalled by nutrient neutrality stipulations.

The Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, initiated by the previous government, will in this tranche, according to the government’s Budget announcement, support up to 28,000 homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said the funding would aid “locally-led" schemes, including creating new wetlands and upgrading septic tanks, with work expected to start “shortly”.

The seven areas receiving the funding include the Norfolk Broads and the River Wensum which will receive £8.8 million to unlock more than 5,000 new homes; the River Axe with £4 million to release around 1,000 new homes; the Solent which will receive nearly £7 million for more than 2,700 new homes and the River Wye, receiving more than £2.7 million to aid more than 3,000 new homes.

More than £2.5 million will go to the River Mease area for more than 700 new homes, with the River Lambourn receiving more than £2.4 million for more than 800 new homes.

The River Eden, River Derwent and Bassenthwaite …