Will the Minister confirm when guidance, policy papers and packages of support for stakeholders from the Welsh Government will be available in relation to an end to the near moratorium in the granting of planning applications for residential developments in phosphate affected special areas of conservation catchment areas?
The phosphorus issues affecting special area of conservation rivers are complex and the solutions will vary between catchments. Welsh Government guidance on applying the Habitats Regulations to the planning system can be found in Technical Advice Note 5: Nature Conservation in Planning. Natural Resources Wales guidance to local planning authorities on phosphorus is available on their website at https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/business-sectors/planning-and-development/our-role-in-planning-and-development/advice-to-planning-authorities-for-planning-applications-affecting-phosphorus-sensitive-river-special-areas-of-conservation/?lang=en. Catchment specific guidance and projects relating to potential solutions to enable development to progress will be developed by Nutrient Management Boards, reflecting the individual circumstances of each catchment.