New housing could be blocked across the country unless councilors first agree to ULEZ-style green schemes.
Natural England has commissioned a review of ‘mitigation measures’ such as LEZs over 330 designated areas in the country could be subject to mitigation.
New homes will not be built unless councilors agree to introduce green schemes such as ULEZ-style low-emission zones, it has been reported.
Natural England has commissioned a review of ‘mitigation measures’ to limit emissions, including new features in more than 330 designated areas across the country.
This approach is already taking place in the Epping Forest district of Essex where the local council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to launch a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025.
But the council said it had advised Natural England, as the responsible statutory body, that it would not be able to approve new developments until measures were taken to tackle air pollution, the Telegraph reported.
Natural England, chaired by Tony Juniper who is the former head of Friends of the Earth, is alleged to have blocked 145,000 homes already.
Epping Forest Local Council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to introduce a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025.
London’s Ulage mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe.
Speaking to the paper, Mr Juniper said: ‘We simply cannot halt and reverse the decline of nature or improve the quality of our environment – as the Government has legally committed itself to do and as the public has rightly demanded – if we do not tackle pollution at its source. mitigating the effects.’
The Telegraph said it had seen emails showing consultants on a £40,000 contract with Natural England which included examples of mitigation schemes including Low Emission Zones (LEZs) or Clean Air Zones (CAZs).
Natural England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The department is set to examine potential mitigation schemes for development at more than 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites that are mainly protected by regulations introduced by the EU.
These include Greater Manchester’s New Forest and Rochdale canals.
The Mail Online has contacted Natural England for comment.
Potential mitigation schemes for development at over 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites, including Epping Forest (pictured, Blackwear Pond in Epping Forest)
The move could prove controversial as there is already a huge backlash to an extension of the London ULEZ scheme which could extend the zone to the Kent and Surrey border.
The allowance scheme has proved highly controversial, with critics claiming it does little to improve air quality and has a negative impact on families and businesses who need to drive.
Five Tory-led councils, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey went to the High Court to challenge the ULEZ expansion.
London’s Ulage mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe.
Petrol cars registered before 2006 and diesel cars first registered before September 2015 are unlikely to meet the required minimum emission standards.
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