On 29 August, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities made an announcement which represented the best piece of news UK housebuilders have received in many months.

Michael Gove's announcement that the UK Government will table an amendment to the Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill in order to remove the requirement of Natural England to advise local authorities to refuse house building in areas where protected waterways are at risk from nitrate and phosphate pollution, is a major win for the development sector and other groups such as the District Councils' Network who have lobbied the Government extensively on this issue.