Dozens of planning applications in Ceredigion are in limbo over pollution fears in the river Teifi, a report outlines.

Ceredigion County Council recently received a letter from Natural Resources Wales about the high levels of phosphates in the Teifi, and new targets mean that all planning applications for the area around the river need to meet stringent tests.

The report says the targets have left 45 applications “that cannot be determined” as yet without further assessments, and “consequently the applications need to be refused” as “if it cannot be proven that there would not be an adverse effect” on phosphate levels in the river, then “planning permission cannot be granted”.

The 45 applications are for 47 homes, including new builds and affordable houses, as well as 22 other uses including agricultural infrastructure and tourism, but none of the developments can be signed off.

Earlier this year Ruth Jenkins, NRW’s head of natural resource management, said that conservation standards “were tightened as a means of safeguarding the river environment and countering the impacts of climate change".

“The new targets set for phosphate levels in our rivers are challenging – but rightly so,” she said.

Lower parts of the Teifi failed 50 per cent of its new targets.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The report is set to go before Ceredigion council Cabinet members on Tuesday.