The government’s plans to dissolve nutrient neutrality rules for new housing developments were blocked in the House of Lords last night.

The proposed amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill would have done away with rules around environmental water quality and new housing developments – amendments the government claimed would have led to the creation of 100,000 new homes across England.

As the government’s effort to amend the nutrient neutrality requirements came at a late stage in the Levelling Up Bill’s passage, the amendments won’t now return to the House of Commons.

Speaking in the Lords, Green Party peer Baroness Jenny Jones said: “If the government are so desperate to add to the unacceptable levels of pollution in the water, they can bring the measures back in a separate bill, as part of the King’s Speech.”

“They can then consult properly and justify it to a public who are already fed up with polluted local rivers and beaches. And If I was prime minister, I wouldn’t relish having a conversation with King Charles about the horrendous state of the country’s waterways.”

According to the government, its proposed changes are essential if much-needed new homes are to be developed, whilst also arguing that an increase in funds to be put towards increasing water quality would offset any problems.

Angela Rayner, shadow levelling minister, said: “The Tories have utterly failed in their attempt to score cheap political points with a flawed plan.”