More than 100 development proposals across Pembrokeshire, totalling in excess of 2,300 homes, remain stuck in limbo owing to the continuing nitrogen neutrality guidelines from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), councillors have been told.
Background of the Nitrogen Neutrality Issue
During the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Council's services overview and scrutiny committee, members were briefed on the persistent issue of nitrogen neutrality, which has caused hold-ups for numerous housing projects throughout the county since being introduced last June. The zone where development must demonstrate nitrogen neutrality covers roughly 75% of the county, encompassing Haverfordwest, Narberth, Pembroke, and Pembroke Dock.
The report, delivered by Councillor Jacob Williams, cabinet member for planning and highways, examined the ramifications of NRW's nutrient neutrality requirements regarding dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) for development within the Milford Haven Inner waterbody catchment of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It also covered the actions being pursued by the council locally to tackle this matter and the council's involvement in regional and national initiatives.
Scale of Affected Developments
The report revealed that, as of May, there were 21 planning applications lodged prior to the introduction of nitrogen neutrality requirements that are now subject to these rules and remain unresolved, alongside a further 66 undetermined since that date, and an additional 15 applications caught by nitrates requirements that have yet to reach their eight-week determination deadline. The 102 developments affected by the nitrates issue accounted for approximately 35% of all outstanding applications – a proportion that climbed even higher when refused schemes were factored in.
Councillor Williams, who last year secured full council backing to write to the First Minister expressing the authority's "great concern over Natural Resources Wales' recent river nitrates guidance in relation to development and the serious effects this is having," said this equated to 2,376 of 6,741 potential housing units, noting that "Pembrokeshire County Council cannot approve development which is unable to demonstrate nitrogen neutrality."
Council's Action Plan
Last October, the council's cabinet approved an action plan to tackle the nitrates issue for affected developments within its planning jurisdiction, with the initial stages already completed. A final report is due for cabinet consideration this September to establish how identified mitigation opportunities might be progressed. Members supported a recommendation to acknowledge the action plan's progress ahead of the forthcoming cabinet report.
