Jane 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.
