Bonfire of EU red tape set to unleash house-building bonanza and £18bn boost, vows Rishi Sunak
A BONFIRE of EU red tape will unleash a house-building bonanza and an £18billion economic boost, PM Rishi Sunak vowed last night.
He confirmed revelations in The Sun that he is ditching “hangover” environmental edicts made by Brussels that “get in the way” of building homes.
Pre-Brexit planning rules around “nutrient neutrality” — which deal with waste water from new developments — will be relaxed to create more than 100,000 homes by 2030.
Construction should begin within months.
Eco campaigners criticised the plan, which they warned would increase pollution in rivers.
But ministers insisted they are not compromising on protecting Britain’s waterways and will safeguard them while boosting house-building.
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Quango Natural England will have its funding for pollution mitigation doubled to £280million. New wetlands will be built to help offset pollution coming from fresh homes.
Mr Sunak, visiting a homes development in Norwich yesterday, said: “I want to see more homes built.
"It’s also what local communities want. But sometimes hangover EU laws get in the way. It’s not right.
“So I’m cutting the red tape to unlock thousands of new homes and I’m stepping up action to protect our environment.”
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Housing Secretary Michael Gove yesterday tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up Bill to kickstart the process.
Property developers — campaigning for years to slash Brussels rules — welcomed the move.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said the plan had the “potential to unlock housing delivery across the country”.
He said: “Swift resolution will be much-needed good news for companies on the verge of going out of business, their employees and for households most affected by housing affordability pressures.”
Matthew Lesh, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “These rules mean one fewer reason that local councils must reject house-building.”
The Lib Dems slammed the decision as a “disgraceful act”.
And Labour sources said the party supports slashing house-building red tape, but will wait to see the wording of Mr Gove’s amendment before pledging support.