DORSET Council has been given £4.63 million of Government money to help with nutrient neutrality work.

Concerns over the effect of building projects in river catchment areas across the county has led to delays for dozens of planning applications, until ways to mitigate the effects of run-off into water courses can be proven.

West Dorset MP, Chris Loder, says he hopes the money will be used to unlock building projects which have been held up, in some cases for several months, because planning officers need to see evidence of how developers will deal with potential run off into water courses which eventually lead into Poole Harbour.

Some building projects are said to have been shelved, indefinately.

A range of proposals, including a replacement development for older people in Dorchester and a housing scheme in Bere Regis, have all been affected by the nutrient neutrality rules. They have also affected proposals for summer caravan and camping sites.

The MP says the £4.63m is the first tranche of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund for the Poole Harbour catchment area in Dorset. The 82,000 hectare catchment area is a Special Protection Area, and the River Frome, Piddle, and its tributaries – which all flow through his West Dorset constituency – feed into it.

Said the MP: “Thousands of modest housebuilding applications in Dorset have been delayed because of nutrient neutrality. Outdated EU legislation is preventing hard-working residents from accessing the property ladder. I’ve been heavily involved in finding a solution to this issue with the Government, along with ensuring that environmental concerns are addressed.”

He added: “The £4.63 million investment for the Poole Harbour Catchment Area will enable local authorities to boost the supply of mitigation, by bringing forward innovative mitigation schemes and providing mitigation credits. It’s a big step in the right direction, and I’ll be exploring further opportunities to address nutrient neutrality issues in West Dorset.”