More like the UK government (and every damn government since I’ve been alive) just hates housebuilding and will come up with any reason to prevent it.

What is the issue with building houses where there are high nitrogen levels?

Since 2019, Natural England has told 74 local planning authorities with polluted rivers that they may not grant permission for new homes unless they were “nutrient neutral.” The Home Builders Federation estimates that the policy blocked the building of more than 160,000 properties.

That’s pretty outrageous.