New housing could be blocked across the country unless councillors agree to ULEZ-style green schemes first
- Natural England commissioned a review of ‘mitigation measures’ such as LEZs
- More than 330 designated areas of the country could be subject to mitigation
New houses will not be built unless councillors agree to introduce green schemes such as ULEZ-style low-emission zones, it has been reported.
Natural England has commissioned a review of ‘mitigation measures’ to limit emissions with new properties in more than 330 designated areas of the country.
This approach is already happening in the Epping Forest district of Essex where the local council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to introduce a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025.
But the council said it had been advised by Natural England as the responsible statutory body that it wouldn’t be able to approve the new developments unless it also introduced measures to tackle air pollution, The Telegraph reported.
Natural England, chaired by Tony Juniper who is the former head of Friends of the Earth, is already accused of blocking up to 145,000 homes.
Epping Forest local council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to introduce a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025
London’s Ulez mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe
Speaking to the paper, Mr Juniper said: ‘We simply cannot halt and reverse the decline in nature or improve the quality of our environment – as the Government has legally committed itself to do and is rightly demanded by the public – if we don’t mitigate the impact of pollution sources.’
The Telegraph said it has seen emails showing consultants on a £40,000 contract with Natural England list examples of mitigation schemes which include low emission zones (LEZs) or clean air zones (CAZs).
Natural England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The department is reportedly set to examine potential mitigation schemes for developments at more than 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites which are protected by regulations originally introduced by the EU.
They include the New Forest and Rochdale Canal in Greater Manchester.
Mail Online has contacted Natural England for comment.
Potential mitigation schemes for developments at more than 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites including Epping Forest (Pictured, Blackweir Pond in Epping Forest)
The move could prove to be controversial as there is already a huge backlash to the expansion of the London ULEZ scheme which could see the zone extend the area up to the borders of Kent and Surrey.
The Ulez scheme has proven hugely controversial, with critics claiming it does little to improve air quality and has a negative impact on families and tradespeople who need to drive.
Five Tory-led councils, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey have gone to the High Court to challenge the ULEZ expansion.
London’s Ulez mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe.
Petrol cars registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles first registered before September 2015 are unlikely to meet the minimum emissions standards required.
