Estuary worries could delay new home schemes

HOUSING and other planned developments could be put on hold for months in a large area of Swansea because of concerns about a protected estuary.

- RICHARD YOULE

Swansea Council's development manager Ian Davies said all new planning applications in the affected catchment area must prove they won't add polluting nutrients to the inner Burry Inlet, which comprises the Loughor Estuary and is part of a marine special area of conservation.

Environment regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has deemed the inner Burry Inlet to be in an "unfavourable condition" due to evidence of chemical and biological failure. This is believed to be caused by polluting nutrients from wastewater and agricultural schemes.

The northwest and most of the north of Swansea around a third of the county is within the inlet catchment area. It's also where some of the largest housebuilding projects in Swansea are proposed.

Speaking at a council planning committee meeting Mr Davies said NRW's latest advice to local authorities didn't mean they couldn't make a decision on new applications.