Providing these critically needed new homes has important social and economic benefits for new and existing communities.

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However, with schemes across large parts of 74 local authorities having to demonstrate nutrient neutrality before building can even commence or resume, an estimated 120,000 new homes are being delayed. 

HBF’s plea comes after its recent report that questions the amount of nutrient-linked pollution Natural England — the English government's adviser for the natural environment — estimates is produced by new housing development. 

Analysis of the initial seven catchment areas affected by the nutrient issue shows that Natural England’s default assumption — that each new home will increase the population in the catchment by 2.4 persons — significantly overestimates the likely additional population that would result from them. 

The amount of mitigation required on each new scheme is also subsequently markedly exaggerated. 

The report carried out by Lichfields urges local authorities to amend their nutrient calculators to take account of evidence from the official household and populations projections of the net average household size in each area, rather than default to Natural England’s advice.

“The increasing number of local authorities now affected by this issue is having a major impact on delivery of new homes in England and Wales,” said Gareth Williams, senior director at Lichfields.
 
He claimed that the calculating method proposed by Natural England had two key failings. 

“It fails to recognise that a significant proportion of these new homes are to meet the requirement of existing residents, so have no impact on overall population and, secondly, they then apply an average household size that overestimates future population,” he explained.

Previous research by Lichfields on this issue demonstrated the significant economic consequences delays to housebuilding will have on local communities, including significant reductions in jobs, economic activity and investment in affordable housing.