Cumberland Council has been criticised by local MPs after it backed a motion on keeping nutrient neutrality requirements for housebuilders.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, had proposed amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which will remove nutrient neutrality requirements for new housing developments meaning that up to 2,500 extra homes could be built in Cumbria.

But following the defeat of this proposed amendment, attention has now switched to local authorities to implement solutions with housebuilders.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday, September 28, Cumberland Council unanimously backed a motion proposed by Green Party councillors, Jill Perry and Helen Davison, to keep current guidance in place across Cumberland.

The motion said a relaxation of the nutrient neutrality laws would be a ‘retrograde step’ and the government should require water companies and housebuilders to “invest in upgrading the infrastructure needed as a prerequisite to development whilst continuing to enforce mitigation schemes”.

It also said: “We further believe that with the right investment and appropriate regulation of all sources of pollution to our waterways, from treatment works to agriculture, communities can have both high-quality affordable homes and healthy waterways.”

But the decision has been criticised by the Conservative MPs for Carlisle and Workington who said that the motion would have a ‘significant negative impact’ on local housebuilding.

““The motion agreed this week not only undermines Cumberland Council’s own senior officers: it undermines the building industry, the developers, the economy, local jobs, and people who need a place to live,” said Mark Jenkinson MP.

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John Stevenson MP added: “Mr Stevenson added: “Like Mr Jenkinson, I am concerned that the council’s stance on the issue of nutrient neutrality will have a significant negative impact on house building in the local area, which will in turn have a detrimental impact on the local economy.

“I would encourage the council to consider this and re-assess their position on the issue”.

Nutrient neutrality restrictions were rolled out to Cumbria in 2022 with the River Eden Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the River Kent SAC and the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake SAC the affected areas.