New housing construction is being held back by rapid growth of factory farms that are polluting rivers, study finds

Rapid spread factory farms and the pollution they cause is blamed house building stalled across the UK.

Many areas where waterways are too degraded to permit new construction comply factory farming hot spots, as the analysis showed.

AND new map allows homeowners to see at a glance how much waste and runoff from industrial agriculture is impacting their property.

For the first time, a map has been created showing where the most manure is produced and where it is distributed, as well as identifying the river catchments most at risk from agricultural pollution.

Interactive’Muk MapUK modeling shows that the Severn, Great Ouse, Ouse (in Yorkshire), Trent, Norfolk Rivers Group and Wye top the list of river catchments most likely to be affected.

Intensive farming is the main cause of river pollution emergencies in England, but national planning rules allow factory farms to be built even in already polluted areas.

In 2019, government body Natural England told 74 local planning authorities dealing with polluted rivers that they could not grant planning permission for new homes unless they were “nutrient neutral” – where the development would not add more harmful chemicals to the water. rivers and streams.

The Federation of Home Builders estimates the policy has blocked the construction of more than 160,000 homes, saying occupants of new homes contribute less than 1 percent of the nutrient pollution that also kills wildlife that birds feed on.

A new report examining levels of manure and manure from intensively farmed animals in the UK says house building is being delayed in areas where the pollution crisis is worst, undermining the government’s ability to meet its target of building 1.5 million new homes.

Research conducted Compassion in Global Farming, Friends of the Earth and Sustain also found that UK pig and poultry farms produce up to 33,450 tonnes of manure every day – the same as 2,788 empty double-decker buses.

The Labor government has signaled it wants to change planning rules to remove barriers to thousands of homes being built, and Natural England has welcomed the move.

The number of factory farms in the UK grew by 12 percent from 2016 to last year, according to CiWF.

Plans for two American-style industrial megafarms in East Anglia – which will be one of the largest megafarms in Europe – should be decided next year.

Residents supported by campaign groups say factory farms are already flooding communities with pollution, noise, odors and toxic air.

The Commons Environmental Audit Committee says agricultural waste, which accounts for 70 per cent of nitrate pollution, is the most common barrier to rivers achieving good environmental status.

England’s planning rules are currently being reviewed and the organizations behind the Mud Map say stricter and clearer rules are needed to protect rivers and wildlife.

Activists say in some areas the soil contains twice the amount of nitrates they can absorb.

Anthony Field, head of CiWF UK, said: “The spread of manure from factory farms in England has contributed to nitrogen pollution in every region. In some places the situation is so bad that protected areas are being damaged and this pollution must be compensated so that construction of houses can continue.

“Inaction will have a profound impact on the climate and nature crises.”

Claire Oxborrow, from Friends of the Earth, said: “Factory farming is quietly taking over the UK countryside, driven by powerful agribusinesses chasing profit at any cost.

“Not only are these companies polluting our precious rivers and wildlife, they are damaging habitats and livelihoods in South America, where the diverse Cerrado ecosystem is being destroyed to produce soya to feed pigs and chickens in the UK and around the world.”

Ruth Westcott, from Sustain, said: “Local councils and communities are desperate to protect their rivers, but they are facing a wave of development applications for large and dangerously polluting rivers.”

Independent asked the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to comment on the situation.