Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
The publication of Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) Marine Protected Area (MPA) condition assessments on 25 June confirmed that nutrient pollution was contributing to poor condition of site features in several marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
Action is required to address this and it has potentially significant implications for Local Planning Authority (LPA) decisions, where development may contribute to nutrient loads, and knock-on impacts for development and its associated industries.
The Welsh Government is committed to protecting and restoring Wales’ nature and the Habitats Regulations provide the means for protecting our most significant sites for biodiversity and for considering impacts upon them. The Welsh Government is also committed to delivering the homes and infrastructure our nation needs.
To ensure that development resumes as quickly as possible, in a sustainable way, the First Minister has established a Taskforce. This group brings together senior officials from the Welsh Government, Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. It is working at pace to identify and explore all reasonable options, with a focus on identifying short-term solutions that can be actioned quickly and that will contribute to more sustainable medium- and long-term solutions. The Taskforce reports regularly on progress to Ministers and Local Authority leaders.
The Welsh Government is also providing additional financial support to affected areas to enable them to quickly put in place the measures required for developments to proceed. This includes over £500,000 to the West Wales Nutrient Management Board and funding of up to £1.5million over three years to support Local Authorities to implement nutrient neutrality measures.