District council says planning applications can be determined as usual after resolving problems with quality of water discharged at nature reserve

Dover District Council has said it can resume making decision on residential planning applications after overcoming problems with nitrogen and phosphate pollution at a nature reserve.

Natural England in July 2020 told the council mitigation would have to be identified and assessments made before any planning applications could be approved for new housing that would discharge into the local catchment area. 

This followed concerns about new developments that would connect to the Dambridge wastewater treatment works, which discharges into the Stour Valley and Stodmarsh catchment and so affects water quality at Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve. 

Dover said a study had now found new developments did not have a significant impact on the reserve’s water quality. 

Hydrological connectivity and water quality modelling work had demonstrated that any additional nutrients reaching Stodmarsh as a result of new connections to Dambridge would not have a significant impact, the council said.

Nicholas Kenton, Dover's Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, said: “This is welcome news for the Dover district and provides reassurance that new development is not having an adverse impact on the internationally important Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve. 

“This will in turn help kickstart growth and the delivery of much-needed homes across the district.” 

A number of councils have had planning applications put on hold because of Natural England’s concerns about nitrate pollution from new homes affecting habits. 

In July, developers were told they would be able to purchase 'nutrient credits' that will discharge the requirement to provide nutrient pollution mitigation to be granted planning permission under new Government plans.

This came a week after the Court of Appeal rejected a claim for judicial review of Fareham Council's decision to grant permission for new housing applying Natural England's nutrient neutrality advice for the Solent.

Mark Smulian