A scheme to restart construction across much of Herefordshire, frozen for over two years due to environmental rules, is about to begin.

“We have a housing development moratorium in the Lugg catchment due to phosphates getting into the river,” the council’s interim director for economy and environment Neil Taylor told an online meeting.

“In response to this we have been progressing a series of integrated wetland projects through which we can offer ‘phosphate credits’, allowing us to give planning consent to build new homes.”

These are due to come into use this spring, and “are looking very positive”, Mr Taylor said, adding that next month the council will set out to developers how they can take advantage of this.

A similar moratorium for the river Wye catchment “cannot be far away, as the phosphates issue affects most of the county”, and so the council is proceeding with similar wetland plans in this area, he added.

But Coun Ellie Chowns, who leads the Green group in the county’s ruling coalition, said: “What we are doing with the wetlands is a sticking plaster at the end of the sewage pipe.

“The solution is for the intensive agricultural sector to take full life-cycle responsibility for their waste products.”

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Council leader David Hitchiner said: “Loads of people want to come to live in Herefordshire, which is many ways a great position to be in.

“But we aren’t building enough houses and that’s largely because of the phosphates issue.”

Merry Albright, Eardisland parish councillor and creative director of traditional building firm Border Oak, responded: “One of your biggest sectors is construction.”

Meanwhile, chief executive Paul Walker said the council is taking on eight planning consultants, “to help us clear the current backlog of applications over the coming weeks”.

Planning officer Florence Churchill added: “We will make sure our communication is a lot better than it is with agents, developers and applicants, through a regular engagement process.”