A proposed new levy on housing developers to unlock thousands of new homes by paying for measures to protect nature in Norfolk, has come in for further criticism.
Norfolk has been picked as a testbed for a new initiative to tackle the impact of pollution on waterways from new housing developments, with the government saying it will help unlock 16,000 homes.
The government's mooted Environmental Delivery Plan in Norfolk, which is out for consultation, would see developers pay £2,675 per house into a nature restoration fund for conservation measures, including in the Norfolk Broads.
But it had already sparked criticism, with concerns the root causes of pollution were not being tackled.
It has also emerged that the £2,675 per house figure is much lower than the £5,400 and £60,500 per house figure mooted in an earlier draft version of the plan.
Ecologists had already questioned whether the levy is too low to provide meaningful mitigation for pollution from developments.
And Dr Justin Neal, head of legal at national conservation charity WildFish, said: "Norfolk's chalk streams and wetlands are protected for a good reason.
"The Yare and Wensum, for instance, hold white clawed crayfish and lamprey. They shouldn't be sacrificed on the altar of growth.
"The plan works on the basis that a positive outcome for these rivers and wetlands can be achieved by improving a separate issue for the river such as connectivity and wetland restoration.
"Whilst any improvements on the health of the rivers is a good thing, putting more sewage in a river and ‘compensating’ through a levy is absurd."
The plan comes after a previous directive by government advisors Natural England stalled decisions over hundreds of new homes in the county.
That was because councils were told they could not approve housing schemes until developers showed they could mitigate for the impact of wastewater from their schemes on the River Wensum and the Norfolk Broads.
The 2022 directive sought to achieve nutrient neutrality amid concerns that nutrients created by development could go into waterways and harm species.
It left councils scrabbling to find ways whereby housebuilders could offset pollution, which included councils setting up a scheme so developers paying for credits for mitigation measures.
Phil Courtier, director for planning at South Norfolk and Broadland councils, said the proposed delivery plan had a more "streamlined system".
He said it would make life easier for the council and for developers, as Natural England would take over the responsibility for overseeing the levy on residential property schemes.
But he said the council's own nutrient neutrality credit scheme was likely to keep running in tandem, as the government levy only applies to residential homes, not other accommodation such as hotels.
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