West Dorset MP Chris Loder attended a roundtable discussion at 10 Downing Street on nutrient neutrality in local rivers and waterways.

The local MP was joined by fellow parliamentarians affected by the management of nitrates and phosphates in Special Protection Areas in their constituencies.

The need to reduce nutrients in rivers has affected the local planning process and slowed down the building of new homes, which can add to nitrates and phosphates in the water.

Mr Loder attended as the Poole Harbour catchment area is a Special Protection Area, and the River Frome, Piddle, and its tributaries – which all flow through his West Dorset constituency - feed into it.

Speaking about the roundtable discussion, Mr Loder said: "I attended the roundtable today to find solutions to unlock the issues we are facing with housing and planning.

"Since 2020, nutrient neutrality has had an acute impact on our local planning system and developers, farmers and landowners; all parties are expected to mitigate, and ultimately neutralise, their emissions of nitrates and phosphates from entering Special Protection Areas. I think we need to strike a balance with all interested parties.

"A recent consultation inviting all local planning authorities to comment on whether a Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund would unlock housing delivery in catchment areas is a step forward.

"Additionally, a legislative solution to this matter lies with the return of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to Parliament, which I am continuing to push for."