Lake District makes moves to reduce nutrient neutrality housing backlog
A local development order would enable septic tanks to be replaced with modern package treatment plants without the need for planning permission – a move that would largely reduce the amount of phosphorus being discharged into nearby rivers.
Lake District National Park Authority will be meeting next to discuss the possible LDO. If members vote in favour, the order will be drafted for public consultation.
In encouraging members to vote this way, council officers noted that 100 applications have been made to replace septic tanks with package treatment plants over the past five years. None of these have been refused.
Replacing septic tanks with the largely underground package treatment plans is described as a “tried and tested” method for reducing phosphorus discharge in a council report.
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This is key for Cumbria, which suffers from high levels of phosphorus in its rivers. This has led to a nutrient neutrality rules for the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake Special Area of Conservation, the River Eden SAC, River Kent SAC, and Esthwaite Water RAMSAR.
As a result, those looking to build homes in the county must prove that their scheme does not add to the levels of phosphorus in the area. This has led to the stalling of the delivery of an estimated 3,600 homes in the area – particularly in Carlisle.
Lake District National Park Authority, alongside Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council, have joined up to help fund replacement septic tanks. The phosphorus savings generated from these replacements would then be issued to housebuilders as nutrient neutrality credits. The trio has been granted £15m from the government to fund their nutrient neutrality efforts.
