Norfolk Broads levy too low to cover environmental damage, critics say

A new levy on developers that permits the construction of nearly 16,000 homes in the Norfolk Broads has been cut by tens of thousands of pounds per house, the Guardian reports. The reduction means the fee will not cover the cost of mitigating environmental damage, according to critics.

Ministers maintain that the government’s environmental delivery plans (EDPs) were created to unblock housing growth across the country and are a “win‑win” for development and nature. The levy allows almost 16,000 homes to be built on the Norfolk Broads, but critics say it will not cover the cost of mitigating environmental damage, and ministers claim the EDPs are a win‑win for development and nature.