River water quality in agricultural areas • R (Sahota) v Herefordshire Council and another [2022] EWCA Civ 1640

Abstract

Introduction. The issue at the heart of this judicial review relates to the maintenance of water quality in agricultural areas and where there is documented stress placed on river systems though nutrient run-off. Often this is caused through manure spreading and/or the use of chemical fertilisers. The case concerned a proposal for relatively small agricultural development, the consequences of which would be additional manure generation and land spread in the River Wye catchment. The river is noted as under pressure from such inputs and a challenge was brought against a decision of the respondent local authority to permit the proposed development.