'I stand by my pledge': Therese Coffey defiant in housebuilder nutrient pollution row

Michael Holder
clock • 5 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Environment Secretary insists 'no loss of environmental outcomes' from ditching water pollution requirements for housebuilders, but OEP maintains proposals amount to 'clear regression'

Thérèse Coffey has doubled down on the government's claim that its proposed dropping of 'nutrient neutrality' rules will not weaken water quality around new housing developments, in a defiant letter to...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Michael Holder
Author spotlight

Michael Holder

Editor

View profile
More from Michael Holder

Closure of last coal power plant drives UK territorial emissions down to record low

How can businesses and policymakers turn public climate concern into support for action?

More on Legislation

Osborne Clarke's Caroline Bush: 'Nature risk is higher up the corporate agenda than ever'
Legislation

Osborne Clarke's Caroline Bush: 'Nature risk is higher up the corporate agenda than ever'

VIDEO: Caroline Bush, an associate director in law firm Osborne Clarke's environment team, reflects on the UK's Biodiversity Net Gain rules, assessing nature risk, and the changing landscape for environmental and climate regulation and legislation

BusinessGreen staff
BusinessGreen staff
clock 12 January 2026 • 1 min read
Biodiversity Net Gain can help boost economic resilience - weakening the policy would show a lack of ambition
Legislation

Biodiversity Net Gain can help boost economic resilience - weakening the policy would show a lack of ambition

Government proposals to exempt small sites from BNG rules signals a disappointing lack of ambition and understanding of how the sectors have already mobilised to support this new market, writes Forsters lawyer Polly Montoneri

Polly Montoneri, Forsters
clock 09 January 2026 • 5 min read
Government presses water firms to produce mandatory pollution-cutting plans
Legislation

Government presses water firms to produce mandatory pollution-cutting plans

Environment Agency warns 'every water company now needs to focus on delivery', as new rules require them to produce pollution action plans from April

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 09 January 2026 • 5 min read