The prime minister has blamed Labour for a fiasco which is stopping homes from being built in Norfolk.

Speaking on a visit to the county this week, the PM accused the party of depriving young people of a home, after the House of Lords voted to block the government’s plan to scrap ‘nutrient neutrality’ rules.  

Ministers wanted to remove rules requiring developers building new homes in protected areas such as Norfolk to provide mitigations to ensure no additional nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, make it into rivers and lakes.

They argued water pollution from new homes - via wastewater - is small and would have been offset by £280m of investment.

But plans to axe the rules were set out by prime minister Rishi Sunak on a visit to Norfolk in August but the Lords blocked it 192 to 161. 

Eastern Daily Press: Housing secretary Michael Gove and prime minister Rishi Sunak during their visit to Hethersett (Image: Press Association)Housing secretary Michael Gove and prime minister Rishi Sunak during their visit to Hethersett (Image: Press Association) (Image: Press Association)

Labour was a key force in the vote, but it was also blocked by Liberal Democrats and three Tory peers. 

On a visit to the Bacton Gas Terminal this week, Mr Sunak accused the Labour Party of depriving young people of the chance to get on the housing ladder.

He said: “It’s very disappointing that the Labour Party voted against our plans to resolve the issues with nutrient neutrality.  

“Right now there are 100,000 homes around the country, including many here, that are being blocked by defective legacy EU laws that have nothing to do with actually tackling nutrient pollution and just serve to block young people from getting on the housing ladder.

Eastern Daily Press: Nutrient neutrality guidance blocked decisions over thousands of homes in Norfolk (Image: Mike Page)Nutrient neutrality guidance blocked decisions over thousands of homes in Norfolk (Image: Mike Page) (Image: Mike Page)

"We had tried to pass a law that would have changed that and strengthened our protections for the environment, but sadly the Labour Party decided to block that in the House of Lords. It's disappointing and frustrating. 

“We're going to continue to do everything we can to support young people to get on the housing ladder. We're going to deliver our commitment to build a million new homes over this parliament.” 

Labour's Angela Rayner said scrapping the rules would have been "reckless", and insisted the rivers need protection