Phosphate now a material planning consideration for schemes near the rivers Wye and Usk

Last week the Welsh Government environment body, Natural Resources Wales published new stricter targets for phosphate levels in rivers that are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

Of the nine in Wales, two flow in Powys, the rivers Wye and Usk.

Following the review, NRW said that phosphorus breaches are widespread within Welsh SAC rivers with over 60 per cent of waterbodies failing against the challenging targets set.

The river with the highest level of phosphate failures was the Usk with 88 per cent of its water bodies failing to hit the target.

At Powys County Council’s planning committee meeting on Friday, January 22, Professional planning lead officer, Peter Morris, explained what the changes mean for developers in the county.

Mr Morris said: “NRW have published interim planning guidance that they expect to be followed now in relation to development within the Wye SAC catchment and the others.

“There has always been an expectation that development connects to sewers.

“The difficulty is, not all public waste water facilities have phosphate stripping abilities in them.

“We’re clarifying that with Welsh Water, I think it’s only the Llandrindod and Talgarth treatment works that have phosphate stripping at the moment.”

Mr Morris explained that Welsh Water had started a five year improvement plan and had already earmarked upgrading facilities in Rhayader, Builth Wells, Presteigne and Norton, but more information would be needed about the Usk catchment area.

Mr Morris said: “In planning speak we have a new material consideration.

He added that live planning applications, that have not been decided yet, would need to consider the impact of phosphate.

He also explained that he had met with planning agents, and had told them that they would have to deal with the issue “up front” before a planning application is submitted, and not “hope it goes away.”

“The blunt message is that it is going to impact on development proceeding,” said Mr Morris.

Pollution in the Wye had led to calls to stop approving intensive poultry farm planning applications until research is done on their environmental impact.

Councillor David Price said: “It was illuminating to see that there’s no connection formed between phosphate problems and agriculture.

“That statement is probably long overdue.

“The details have shown there is a phosphate issue in rivers where there are no proliferation of poultry units or intensive agriculture.”

Councillor Jonathan Wilkinson added: “This would undoubtedly have an impact on agricultural development often unfairly blamed for elevated nitrates and phosphate levels.”

Councillor Roger Williams said that people who have raised concerns about planning applications for intensive farming units, have pointed more fears of nitrogen and ammonium levels, rather than phosphates.

“I’m disappointed they have not looked at this,” said Councillor Williams.

Members of the Planning Committee are expected to receive training on the issue and further discussions will take place with NRW, to fully understand the implications of the targets.