Natural England’s nutrient neutrality guidance has had a devastating impact on SMEs across the country who have seen their businesses grind to a halt due to cumbersome and unnecessary red tape.

Research by planning consultant Lichfields shows that, to date, the guidance has blocked the delivery of 114,800 new homes across 74 Local Planning Authorities, preventing the creation of over 251,500 construction jobs, and creating a £15 billion investment shortfall in the UK construction industry alone – equivalent to over three times the Government’s ‘Levelling Up Fund’.

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