Phosphates ‘unlawfully held up’ 1000s of homes

THE Supreme Court has ruled that projects to build thousands of Somerset homes have been “unlawfully held up”.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local Democracy Reporter

Around 12,000 homes in Somerset are delayed due to pollution mitigation issues.

Due to high levels of phosphate runoff on the Levels and Moors in the county developers have had to secure additional mitigation so that there is no net increase.

Developer CG Fry has been fighting a lengthy legal battle against Somerset Council — surrounding phosphate mitigation on the Jurston Fields site in Wellington.

‘The challenge made it all the way to the Supreme Court in mid-February.

‘Judges have now ruled in the developer’s favour - which could potentially unlock thousands of new homes and create a seismic shift in how phosphate mitigation is delivered in Somerset.

‘This ruling comes as the council seeks to change its own approach to mitigation, departing from Natural England’s original legal advice in favour of relying on upgrades being implemented by Wessex Water.

CG Fry was granted outline permission in December 2015 to construct the Jurston Fields development, consisting of up to 650 homes, employment units, a primary school and a community wood.