Hundreds of new homes in one part of Kent could now be built following checks at a beauty spot.

It has been found that developments in the Dover district do not harm the water quality of Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve near Canterbury, despite initial fears that they might.

The environmental issues at Stodmarsh first came to light in 2020.

Between November of that year and August 2022, it has resulted in about 40 applications to Dover District Council (DDC), involving more than 470 homes, being delayed. Some have never been dealt with since that first month.

About 300 homes forming part of the Aylesham Garden Village expansion have been held up for 18 months.

The development of approximately 90 has been delayed in Ash.

But Dover District Council (DDC) says it can now decide as usual on these planning applications.

In July 2020, Natural England issued guidance for applications for new developments, which would connect to the Dambridge wastewater treatment works.

This discharges into the Stour Valley and Stodmarsh catchment area.

The guidance was issued due to concerns about poor water quality at Stodmarsh and the effect that additional nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from new developments may have on the site.

The advice meant that assessments had to be carried out before planning applications for new housing, which would have discharge into the catchment area, could be approved.

Now there has been a completion of hydrological connectivity and water quality modelling work and a subsequent review by Natural England .

“This will in turn help kickstart growth and the delivery of much-needed homes across the district...”

It shows that any additional nutrients reaching Stodmarsh as a result of new connections to Dambridge would not have a significant effect.

DDC now aims to determine delayed planning applications quickly and case officers will contact agents to give updates on likely decision times.

Cllr Nicholas Kenton, cabinet member for planning and environment, said: “This provides reassurance that new development is not having an adverse impact.

“This will in turn help kickstart growth and the delivery of much-needed homes across the district.”

Stodmarsh is a Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and parts are a National Nature Reserve.

It is a site of national and international importance for a range of water dependent habitats and wildlife that relies upon them.

Concerns over the water quality have stalled housebuilding across east Kent.

In July, a long-awaited solution was finally announced.

The government revealed housebuilders can offset the damage caused by harmful substances seeping into the county’s rivers and lakes by buying ‘nutrient credits’ to fund mitigation measures, such as new wetlands or woodland.

Since the Stodmarsh pollution issues came to light, Natural England has been instructing local planning authorities not to grant approval for new housing without mitigating measures.

The new nutrient mitigation scheme, launched by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Natural England, is designed to ‘unlock’ the barrier to building work.