Housing developers will be allowed to pollute rivers in Norfolk with sewage in exchange for paying for conservation measures such as culling deer under Labour’s new plans to speed up housebuilding.
Previously, housebuilding in the region has only been allowed if a development does not add to existing pollution in waterways. That is about to change.
Housebuilders will now be able to pay £2,675 per home into a Nature Restoration Fund for measures such as “deer management” and the creation of wetland habitats in exchange for building new homes.
Ministers describe the plan as a “win-win” for nature and housebuilding, but environmentalists have described it as “ecologically illiterate” and damaging to Norfolk’s rare chalk streams.
How dogs decode what owners say like humans
Scientists have found that dog brains process speech in a similar way to human babies – poking holes in their excuses for ignoring their owners.
A new study, published in , found that the canine brain appears to process speech with a focus on consonants, which was once thought to be unique to humans.
Dogs take special note of consonant sounds
- Dogs were found to take special note of consonant sounds, which is similar to what babies do when they learn to decipher language, the researchers said.
7 min read
Inside the brains of 20 dogs
- The researchers recorded the brain activity of 20 pet dogs and 20 human adults as they listened to nonsensical words.
- Some of the recordings had repeating consonant patterns while others had vowel patterns.
- Using EEG, which measures electrical activity in the brain, researchers noted that for both humans and dogs, the brain response was far stronger when the repeating structure involved consonants.
7 min read
Surprising results
Dog brains segment speech into words in a way previously seen only in humans.
The researchers added that the results were surprising, as the acoustic prominance of vowels could have attracted the dogs more if they were simply latching on to the loudest or most obvious sounds.
Instead, their brains favoured the less acoustically noticeable consonant patterns, which provided more information about which words were being spoken.
Rare ‘gifted word learner’ dogs
The study also suggests that dogs can tell one human language from another. The researchers found several rare “gifted word learner” dogs, which can learn toy names after hearing them only four times.
Earlier this year, the same researchers discovered that some dogs can learn new object names just by overhearing their owner, an ability they said was comparable with word learning in 18-month-old children.
2 min read
5 min read
What to know as Iran offers new ceasefire proposal
If certain conditions are met… the Strait will be open in seven days
Iran has tabled a new seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart peace talks with the US.
Here’s everything you need to know…
Iran submits peace plan to US
While visiting New York for the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said his country’s mediators had submitted a plan that could see the critical waterway open within a week.
“We have introduced a plan to the United States through the mediators that if certain conditions are met… the Strait will be open in seven days,” and Iran and the US would restart negotiations for a final deal, Araghchi told reporters.
The Iranians said their proposal is modelled on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the US and Iran in June.
The agreement, however, collapsed after Iran began firing at ships it said were using an “unauthorised” route to transit the Strait.
6 min read
3 min read
Inside collapsed agreement
60-day ceasfire
That agreement extended an April ceasefire for 60 days, during which Iran would allow uncharged passage via the Strait.
Oil exports
It would also see the US issue waivers for Iranian oil exports.
The US said it will not return to the MoU, and is instead pushing for a deal that covers Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump accuses Iran of stalling for midterms
In his speech to the UN, Donald Trump accused Iran of stalling on a deal until after the midterms, in the hope that his Republican Party would lose power.
In response, Araghchi said it would be “much better” if both countries agreed to an MoU before the midterms, but that the US dictates the timeline.
Productive talks continue
- Araghchi added that the moment the US accepts its plan, a “timetable can start, and after seven days, the Strait will be open.”
- Recent talks held on the sidelines of the UN were reportedly productive for both sides.
- A White House official said the US and Iran “are having positive and constructive discussions through the mediators”.
3 min read
Noah Woods drowned after slipping through ‘gap in playground fence’
Noah Woods, the three-year-old boy who was the subject of a huge search in Suffolk, drowned after escaping “through a gap in the fence” at a playground, an inquest has heard.
Major search for toddler
The toddler, who had a speech delay and was partially deaf, became separated from a relative at a playground in Brantham village on 15 September.
A major search was carried out, with at least 1,300 people helping to try find him in the 24 hours after he went missing, along with helicopters, dog units and police divers.
Noah ran out of sight
Police told Suffolk Coroner’s Court that Noah had left the playground, walked into a memorial garden and left that through an open gate.
- He then ran down a path on a new housing estate towards the nearby Decoy Pond.
- Det Ch Insp Matt Connick from Suffolk Police told the court that CCTV showed Noah playing in the area with a relative close by.
- After he had left the play area, he was closely followed by the relative trying to catch up with him, he added.
- The inquest heard the relative had shouted out to Noah, but he went out of sight shortly afterwards.
Police divers recover boy’s body
Police divers from the Metropolitan Police searched Decoy Pond the next day. They found the boy’s body five metres from the edge of the pond within submerged tree roots at a depth of 1.8 metres.
Noah’s death was confirmed at 4.31pm by paramedics and his identity was formally confirmed by his mother, at Ipswich Hospital that evening, the inquest heard.
4 min read
- The inquest has been adjourned until a later date.
- In tribute shared by Suffolk Police, his family said that Noah was a “happy, cheeky, playful” boy who was being assessed for autism.
4 min read
‘The centre of our world’
He was part of a loving and caring family, living with his mummy, daddy and his little baby brother. He was at the centre of our world… Despite the challenges he faced, he was learning every day. He was saying new words all the time and had only just started finding and using his little voice.
dr pauline swift, the charity chair of blood pressure uk
Pope Leo arrives in France for first papal visit in 18 years
Pope Leo has arrived in France for a whirlwind four-day papal visit – the first in 18 years.
Leo, who became pope in May last year, said he wished to be a pilgrim of peace for a world at war, as he prepares to meet victims of the Catholic Church abuse scandal.
Pope meets with Macron
Earlier this year, the first US pope criticised leaders who spend billions on wars, just days after a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict.
Superstar fanfare
- Over a million people are expected to turn out to see him, with the highpoint being a Mass attended by half a million people in central Paris.
- Leo has built a strong following among Gen Z through addressing modern anxieties.
Visit hoped to repair Church image
Local Church leaders hope the trip will repair the Church’s standing after a 2021 report found that 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over the past 70 years.
French bishops have since introduced compensation and safeguarding measures.
The pope will meet seven French victims of abuse by Catholic clergy on Sunday in Lourdes.
4 min read
2 min read
AI presents ‘new dangers to international peace’, says pope
Leo, who has made AI concerns a cornerstone of his papacy, is expected to address the issue at UNESCO.
In a speech at the Vatican on Thursday, the pope said AI could benefit humanity, but has introduced “new dangers to security and international peace” and urged global leaders to “govern wisely”.
3 min read
In pictures: Leo’s visit to Paris
British rapper Yung Filly to face rape retrial
British rapper Yung Filly will face a rape retrial in Australia next June after a jury failed to reach a verdict in an earlier trial.
Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, was charged with the alleged rape and assault of a fan after performing at a nightclub in Perth in 2024.
No decision for rape charges
In July, a jury acquitted the 31-year-old of three counts of rape, one of assault and one of strangulation but found him guilty of two assault charges.
No decision was reached for three rape charges, which Barrientos has denied.
He is understood to have returned to the UK after the court granted him permission to leave Australia as part of his bail conditions.
4 min read
1 min read
Sentencing to take place after retrial
Perth’s district court has set 15 June as the start date for the retrial, which is expected to last eight days.
Sentencing for the two assault charges that the jury found Barrientos guilty of will take place after the retrial.
Barrientos is known for his work with the YouTube collective Beta Squad and has previously appeared in the celebrity version of on Channel 4.
What the court heard in first trial
Barrientos had been on tour in Australia when he was accused of sexually assaulting the woman in his hotel room after he performed in Hillarys, a coastal suburb of Perth.
- The court heard that the social media star had consensual sex with the fan in his hotel room, before she alleged he turned violent and refused to stop.
- During the trial, Barrientos told the court that he had “fancied” the woman when they met at the concert venue.
- He had been in the VIP area while she leaned over the barrier from the general area.
- He said the “vibes were good” between him and the woman when they arrived at his hotel later.
Prosecution calls Filly ‘entitled’
During the first trial’s closing arguments, prosecutor Danielle Clarke said Barrientos was an “entitled” man with a “moderate degree of fame” who had violated the fan “in the most intrusive way possible”.
His defence lawyer argued that the accuser’s evidence was full of “inconsistencies, embellishments and outright lies”.
4 min read
The UK’s pharmacy blackspots
Nearly 300,000 people have seen their local pharmacy shut this year, with dozens closing in shortage areas leaving patients with 17-mile round trips to pick up vital medicines.
Two sites closed per week
Analysis of NHS figures by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) revealed that 51 high-street pharmacies in England shut between January and August this year – the equivalent of two a week.
Of the total, 31 received government funding under a scheme to maintain vital access to medicines for patients in “healthcare shortage” areas.
The South West of England has been hit hardest by closures.
- Nine pharmacies closed across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
- Three pharmacies alone closed in the Somerset town of Taunton.
- Closures are forcing patients to travel significant distances to access emergency prescriptions as well as contraception and clinical advice, particularly on a weekend, patient groups and pharmacies have warned.
- The recent closure of a Lloyds Pharmacy in Long Rock, Penzance, left patients with an up to 1 hour and 20-minute journey by public transport to access their nearest pharmacy – a 17-mile round trip.
Why are pharmacies closing?
Pharmacies have seen real-terms cuts of 40 per cent to their funding since 2016. Since then, 1,500 pharmacies have closed – meaning 9.9 million patients in England have seen their local chemist close, analysis shows.
Despite a £340m Government boost to pharmacy funding in May, NHS analysis for the Community Pharmacy England (CPE) body shows community pharmacies still face a funding gap of more than £2bn.
Just one in seven pharmacies are profitable, a separate survey by CPE of more than 2,900 pharmacies in July revealed.
Patchy medicine access
When a pharmacy closes, it can create pockets where patients will find it harder to access medicines, collect prescriptions and get advice from their local pharmacy. Closures often happen in areas where healthcare support is needed most so it intensifies health inequalities.
Dr James Davies, director of research and insights at Community Pharmacy England
Pressure on other NHS services
NPA leaders urged the Government to reform NHS’s contract with pharmacies. Around 90 per cent of a pharmacy’s work is funded through the NHS, they added.
William Pett, of Healthwatch, said longer distances were “difficult for those with limited mobility or no access to transport” and that is “is no surprise that some people end up turning to other parts of the NHS when they cannot get the help they need in their community”.
2 min read
3 min read
The groundbreaking new DNA brain tumour test
A groundbreaking new DNA test will be offered to patients with brain tumours as part of a new pilot study, which NHS officials say will reduce average diagnosis rates from weeks to days.
Experts say the rapid genomic test can confirm a diagnosis within two hours – meaning medics can know the precise type of tumour even during surgery.
Huge boost to personalised care
The NHS said the test will be piloted in specialist centres around England.
Personalised care
It could help patients get personalised care sooner and help enrol them on clinical trials which they may have missed out on.
Officials said brain tumours are “notoriously difficult” to diagnose.
How does it work?
The cutting-edge technology works by quickly analysing the DNA or genetic code of a small tumour sample taken during biopsy or surgery, helping doctors identify what type of brain tumour the patient has.
There are more than 100 different types of tumours, which range from slow-growing to aggressive cancers.
3 min read
5 min read
This remarkable rapid test has the potential to completely transform how we diagnose .
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS England’s medical director, added that the test is a “huge leap forward” for patients.
This is a huge leap forward for patients – a faster diagnosis means they can start the right treatment or access clinical trials sooner, while for some patients it could mean surgeons can make potentially life-changing decisions about their surgery while on the operating table.
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS England medical director
Health Secretary hails ‘incredible breakthrough’
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper called the technology an “incredible breakthrough”.
Dr Simon Newman of The Brain Tumour Charity added that it will help patients avoid the “‘cruel, traumatic’” experience of waiting weeks to find out which type of brain tumour they have and their prognosis.
3 min read
Why experts fear loss of rare flower shows the UK’s climate future
A rare flower may have gone extinct in southern England due to extreme heat and drought, in what experts fear is a “canary in the mine” for how climate change is affecting biodiversity.
Field gentian all but wiped out
Until recently, the field gentian was abundant in the New Forest, Hampshire.
It was previously thought these populations could survive hot summers, due to their sheer size – often more than 5,000 plants at each site – and their ability for seeds to move with livestock into more sheltered areas.
But successive heatwaves and drought – in the third extreme summer in five years – may have led to their loss from southern England.
Rare flower missing for two years
The Species Recovery Trust has been unable to locate a single field gentian plant in the New Forest for the second year in a row.
Dominic Price, director of the charity, said the purple flower grew in dry or “skeletal” grasslands, which are on the “absolute front line” of climate change as they become parched and dead in hot, dry weather.
2 min read
This loss of what was such an abundant plant is deeply worrying, and in many ways, it feels like a canary in the mine for how climate change is likely to accelerate species loss.
Dominic Price, director of the Species Recovery Trust
Is it gone for ever?
- Price said “there’s potential for a miracle” with a wet summer next year helping the plant stage a comeback.
- In the summer of 2022, when UK temperatures soared to 40°C for the first time, field gentian populations crashed in the south of England, and went extinct in Devon.
- But populations recovered slightly the following year.
2 min read
The Government’s own proposals admit the scheme will lead to an increase of sewage pollution in the region, but argue the conservation benefits being funded will result in an overall benefit for the environment.
The proposals have been set out as part of an Environmental Delivery Plan for Norfolk, which is the first of dozens of such plans being created under the Planning and Infrastructure Act, which was passed last year as part of Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
New homes allowed to pollute rivers
For more than four years, housebuilding surrounding the River Wensum and Norfolk Broads has been heavily constrained due to “nutrient neutrality” rules that state a new development can only be built if it does not add to existing pollution in the waterways.
The rules were put in place by Natural England in response to excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the region’s waterways. These nutrients typically make their way into rivers via the sewage system or due to animal waste being washed off from farms.
The rivers in question are chalk streams, a rare type of habitat that is fed by underground chalk aquifiers. Described as “England’s rainforests,” the rivers should be home to highly diverse ecosystems, but nutrient pollution is suffocating acquatic life.
For years, housebuilders have had to offset the impact of new developments by purchasing credits from companies that improve water quality in the rivers, for example by creating a wetland or upgrading septic tanks.
However, developers complained the process is overly bureaucratic, unpredictable and expensive.
New levy to fund culling of deer
The Government’s solution is to stop looking at the environmental impact of developments on a case-by-case basis and to get builders to pay for restoration projects on a wider scale.
These projects do not necessarily need to address the environmental damage caused by a new development, instead the Government makes an assessment over whether the benefits of a funded conservation project outweigh the damage being caused.
Environmental charities have raised concerns this approach is too subjective and could lead to irreplaceable habitats being destroyed for unrelated improvements elsewhere.
The plans for Norfolk, which are currently open for consultation, will see the funding of several initiatives in the region, including a 3,700 hectare deer culling programme, designed to reduce the impact the overpopulation of deer has on local habitats.
Other initiatives that will be funded include the creation of new wetlands and the restoration of 1km of the River Wensum.
Environmental lawyers and charities have raised concerns that many of these initiatives do not relate directly to nutrient pollution and the Government’s own plan admits that pollution in the rivers will increase.
“This approach is ecologically illiterate,” said Alexa Culver, Legal Counsel at RSK Wilding, which advises developers on how to meet their environmental requirements and has been involved in facilitating nutrient neutrality projects.
She said “no amount of deer or habitat management can recover irreplaceable habitats and chalk streams” without the source of nutrient pollution being “choked off first”.
The UK’s largest environmental charities, including the National Trust, RSPB and Wildlife Trusts, were strongly opposed to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as it passed through Parliament last year.
They argued the law would weaken environmental protections, however said some of their concerns were addressed by amendments to the bill.
Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of more than 90 organisations, said there were some “good” points in Norfolk Environmental Delivery Plan, including “upfront investment to get conservation actions working quickly”.
However, he said the plan “must be strengthened with measures on water efficiency, greener farming, and sustainable drainage to ensure those benefits aren’t undermined from the outset by increasing pollution in rivers”.
Housebuilders welcome proposals
Labour is under pressure to meet its pledge to build 1.5 million news homes by 2029, with developers warning the target is unlikely to be met.
Earlier this month The i Paper revealed the Office for Budget Responsibility was considering downgrading its growth forecast for the UK economy due to the increasing unlikelihood that the target will be met.
James Stevens, director for cities at the Home Builders Federation, welcomed the first Environmental Development Plan, saying it meant developers “will be able to contribute towards the mitigation and restoration of natural habitats within a system with robust checks to ensure monies are spent appropriately”.
The Nature Restoration Fund will be overseen by Natural England, which Stevens said “removes the need for applicants to negotiate for credits with private sellers on a site-by-site basis, reducing bureaucracy, complexity and uncertainty”.
However, the HBF has previously questioned why housebuilders are being forced to pay for nutrient management, when farming and poorly maintained sewerage infrastructure has been found to be the main sources of the pollution.
Water companies have been given until 2030 to upgrade their wastewater treatment works in the areas impacted by nutrient neutrality rules.
A Government spokesperson said: “The public rightly want to live in communities with healthy green space and thriving waterways, and that is exactly what these plans will deliver with measures like habitat creation and river restoration.
“This will mean more homes to fix the housing crisis, but not at the expense of nature. Both are a core focus of this government, and they will no longer be traded off against one another.
“A larger, strategic approach to nature recovery in Norfolk will achieve far more than piecemeal schemes ever could. It will deliver a genuine boost for nature, with local communities at its heart.”