First it was newts, then Environmental Impact Assessment, now it’s the rules on adding pollution to our already suffering rivers. Soon the UK Government will run out of environmental scapegoats and have to look at the real reason homes are not being built quickly enough. Oh, but wait – they already did! Their own report on build-out rates in 2018 found that it was a market problem – that developers cannot provide too many houses at once because it results in the marketplace flooding*. So, instead, they hold back. Large developments with existing planning permission are built out over years, sometimes decades, to secure the best prices.

Once again, the environment is used as a distraction from the real problem, and in this case, nature is set against the provision of homes in a totally unnecessary way. The Wildlife Trusts strongly believe that government must solve the housing crisis and provide people with the homes they need. We are working to tackle the nature and climate crises, but also liaise with housing charities to develop solutions for providing sufficient homes, built in a way that actively contributes to reducing climate impacts, helps nature to recover and tackles health inequalities.

But what do these six principles mean?

Build the right homes:

New homes must meet the real needs of local people, with affordable homes as a priority. This means more social housing. It also means improving and modernising existing homes: refurbishment can produce far less CO₂ but government funding favours new building.

Build in the right place:

When planning new developments, both nature and climate change must be taken into consideration. Avoiding harm to wildlife and natural spaces from the outset will reduce risk, delays and expense for developers. New development should not be built in flood risk areas. Homes should be close to public transport, walking and cycle routes, so that people are not reliant on car ownership and are therefore supported to live in a low carbon way.

Build in the right way:

Developers should use sustainable construction methods and materials to deliver quality, affordable and low carbon homes that minimize energy and water use. They should avoid biodiversity loss by designing nature into buildings and their surroundings to provide more space for wildlife and to help it to recover.

Use nature and people-centred design:

… to create places where people can enjoy healthier lives. Everyone has a right to the health and wellbeing benefits of being in contact with nature. Adequate high quality and accessible natural green space must be integrated into urban areas through innovative design and placemaking. All homes should be within five minutes’ walk of natural green space.

Plan development within environmental limits:

Better strategic planning is needed to ensure that development does not affect the capacity of the natural environment to support it. Development should not put additional stresses on water supply in areas where demand will soon outstrip supply. It should not put more pollution into our already damaged rivers. This does not mean development shouldn’t happen, simply that strategic solutions should be found to manage these impacts. Often, nature-based solutions are the cheapest and most effective way to reduce pollution impacts, manage water, or capture carbon.

Contribute to nature’s recovery:

Nature continues to decline more rapidly than ever, with 13% of species in the UK still at risk of extinction. Development has been, and continues to be, a significant cause of these declines, and should instead contribute to helping nature recover. All new development should deliver a minimum of 20% biodiversity net gain. 

The Wildlife Trusts believe that there should be no conflict between providing the homes people need and achieving nature’s recovery. We work with developers, other housing providers and local authorities who want to build and deliver to the highest sustainable standards in a way that protects and enhances nature.

For more information please see our Housing Principles Briefing.

There are already nutrient neutrality mitigation schemes working effectively to enable housing development without adding pollution to our already damaged rivers. For example, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has secured two sites for nutrient mitigation. These enable the avoidance of over 3.75 tonnes of nitrogen entering the Solent catchment each year and mitigate for the impacts of 4,000 homes.

*The report concludes “that the homogeneity of the types and tenures of the homes on offer on these sites, and the limits on the rate at which the market will absorb such homogenous products, are the fundamental drivers of the slow rate of build out.”