New homes could be blocked unless Ulez-style schemes are agreed first
JULY 19, 2023
By Paul Homewood
h/t Ian Magness
This is a clear example of bureaucratic overreach:
New housing is being blocked unless councillors agree to introduce green schemes such as Ulez and low-traffic neighbourhoods, in an approach that the environment watchdog is preparing to roll out across the country.
Natural England, which is already accused of blocking up to 145,000 homes, has commissioned a review of “mitigation measures” that could be used to limit emissions associated with new properties in the vicinity of more than 330 designated areas across the country.
The approach is already under way in the Epping Forest district of Essex, where the local council has sparked anger among residents by drawing up plans to introduce a Ulez-style “clean air zone” from 2025, under which cars and other vehicles would be charged each time they enter the area.
The council said it had been “advised by Natural England, as the responsible statutory body”, that it would be unable to approve new developments unless it simultaneously introduced measures to control air pollution in the area.
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/new-homes-could-be-blocked-unless-ulez-style-schemes-are-agreed-first/
