The government has been told to “get a grip on the haphazard implementation of environmental regulations” by the Built Environment Committee.
A new House of Lords report show that there is a “real risk” the government will miss its housing targets and its environmental ambitions.
While it should be possible to deliver new housing and improve the environment simultaneously, the Committee argues a “lack of leadership and poor implementation” is restricting this.
“The government needs to show a strong display of political leadership to deliver and implement a comprehensive strategy for both development and the environment,” the Committee argues.
During its inquiry the committee heard that 45,000 new homes per year may not be delivered due to nutrient neutrality pollution laws.
The report found the government is failing to provide sufficient support for smaller developers dealing with the laws, which could now put them out of business.
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Build Environment Committee chair Lord Moylan said: “The current approach to managing any conflict between new homes and the needs of the environment is failing to deliver for either side.
“Our inquiry found that the achievement of the government’s housing and environmental policies has been hampered and sometimes completely blocked by lack of co-ordination in policy-making and haphazard and unbalanced implementation.
“There is no way the government can deliver on its housebuilding targets unless it is brave and displays the political leadership necessary to deliver and implement a comprehensive strategy for both development and the environment,” he added.
“A good starting point would be to give housebuilding statutory weight which would ensure it has equal status with environmental goals,” Lord Moylan recommended.
“ After that, coherent, cross-government plans should be developed to address major pollutants and to ensure that money is expended where it will have the most impact.”
