Dear Self-Builders:

Can you advise on what a small self-builder can do to overcome the nitrates issue which is stopping all residential planning consents on the South Coast? I have an outline permission for a new house, but because of this issue of nitrates, I am prevented from getting the full permission until Natural England reaches some sort of conclusion to the matter with our local authority. I understand that some big house builders can overcome the matter by doing deals with local farmers as an "offset" for their housebuilding activity, but what about us small self-builders? Is there anything we can do to move things along more swiftly? My planning permission should have been approved a month ago, were it not for this issue.

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Mrs. K Aisher