Skip to content

HBF Updates on Nutrient Neutrality

The Brookbanks Difference / News / HBF Updates on Nutrient Neutrality

Last week, The Home Builders Federation #HBF published a new Lichfields report referencing the increasing pressure on water companies and farmers to acknowledge the high nutrient levels in rivers.

Agriculture and water treatment have been a catalyst for new home building to be disproportionately sanctioned by Natural England. Stewart Baseley the Chairman of the HBF said “It is widely accepted that the ban on new housing is disproportionate and unnecessary and does nothing to tackle the main causes of the nutrients issue. The new report identifies more balanced and speedier solutions that would help to alleviate this socially and economically damaging ban”.

The current nutrient calculators have been recommended for an update to better reflect the real impact of the desperately needed residential developments in the current housing crisis. The recommendation will focus on the net additional population from new housing developments rather than the old focus of the gross population in new dwellings.

The second important area for change is the commencing of statutory improvements to wastewater treatment works taking effect in 2030, which have been set out in this year’s budget from the government. This will best affect larger developments with longer build-out timescales or developments planned to take place post-2030. These proposals have indeed been passed on to both the government and Natural England, it is now down to them if they are adopted.

For more information get in touch with Dean Swann to find out what this means for your development.

For more information get in touch with Dean Swann to find out what this means for your development.

Dean Swann, Group Technical Director at Brookbanks
Technical Director, Land, Development and Communities Group

Dean Swann

Read Profile

More News

Back to News
Contemporary building facade with reflective glass windows in an urban environment.

Brookbanks Webinar: Closing the Loop – Rethinking Sustainable Buildings

June 9, 2026

In this webinar, Katie Glaze and Grant Vasey explore how sustainable design must move beyond traditional RIBA stages to better reflect how buildings actually perform in use. The session focuses on the disconnect between design intent and operational reality, and why long-term performance depends on evolving ownership, real user behaviour, and ongoing feedback. Drawing on practical experience and case studies, Katie and Grant highlight how current tools and assessment methods, including TM54, LCA/WLC and NABERS, often fall short in capturing real-world performance. The webinar is aimed at those working across design, engineering, and development who are looking to better understand operational outcomes and deliver more effective, sustainable buildings.

Read More
View of a busy construction site with cranes and building structure under clear sky.

Podcast #18: Design of Transfer slabs and efficient structures

June 2, 2026

As development sites become more constrained and expectations around multi-use building designs continue to rise, structural engineering choices are playing an increasingly important role in successful delivery. In our latest podcast, “Design of Transfer slabs and efficient structures,” Ben is joined by Chris Vivian and Devi Varatharajan to explore current industry trends in concrete design. The discussion focuses on how transfer slabs impact construction efficiency, carbon footprints, and why early-stage engagement is critical to optimizing building design.

Read More