Critics say Norfolk Broads housing levy will not cover environmental damage
Critics say a levy on developers linked to plans for almost 16,000 homes in the protected Norfolk Broads has been reduced by tens of thousands of pounds per property. They argue the lower charge will not pay for measures to mitigate environmental damage, while ministers describe the wider plans as supporting both housing and nature.
A levy intended to offset environmental damage from almost 16,000 homes planned for the Norfolk Broads has been reduced by tens of thousands of pounds per house, according to an investigation by the Guardian. Critics say the lower charge will not cover the cost of mitigating the impact of the development on the environmentally protected area. They have characterised the arrangement as a “cash to trash” scheme, arguing that the amount collected from housebuilders is insufficient to address the damage associated with the construction.
The levy is linked to government environmental delivery plans, or EDPs. Ministers say the plans were created to unblock housing growth across the country while protecting or restoring nature. They describe the approach as a “win-win” for development and the environment.
The supplied material does not state the original or revised levy amounts, identify the body responsible for setting the charge, or detail the mitigation work that would be funded. It also does not give the timetable for building the homes or specify how the environmental effects would be assessed. The disagreement centres on whether the levy is large enough to pay for the environmental measures required in the Norfolk Broads.
Critics say it is not; ministers maintain that the delivery-plan approach can support housing growth and nature together. No response from developers or further government detail is included in the available material.
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