Written question WQ87878
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
Will the Minister confirm how many housing projects have been suspended in light of the Welsh Government's phosphate reduction targets?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee recommended targets have been incorporated into Natural Resources Wales’s Core Management Plans for the purposes of the Habitats Regulations. Ensuring our water is of the highest quality is a vital part of making Wales a prosperous, happy and healthy place to live, and plays a central role in our response to the nature and climate emergencies.
An Information and Evidence Pack was prepared for the First Minister SAC Rivers Summit on Tackling Phosphorous Pollution in Wales’s Special Area of Conservation Rivers on 18 July. The pack contains evidence from stakeholders such as Local and National Park Authorities, Registered Social Landlords and market housing developers, outlining how many housing projects have been affected by this issue.
On 8th March, the First Minister chaired the second River Pollution Summit to discuss river water quality and the impact this is having on development. At the summit all partners agreed the Relieving Pressures on SAC River Catchments to Support Delivery of Affordable Housing: Action Plan. We are confident that delivering the actions identified will allow housing development in the affected SAC river catchments to restart.