What is Nutrient Neutrality?
What is Nutrient Neutrality?
Nutrient Neutrality is achieved when a developer proves that their development will not increase the amounts of Nitrogen or Phosphorus in a sensitive water environment.
Why has Nutrient Neutrality been introduced?
When high levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorous enter a watercourse, they disrupt natural processes and impact wildlife and water quality. Ground water and coastal and marine areas are most vulnerable to Nitrogen pollution, whilst freshwater environments (rivers & lakes) are more susceptible to Phosphorous pollution. These nutrients come from agricultural activity, sewage and its treatment, septic tanks and industrial processes.
Developments that increase the number of occupants in an area can add to nutrient pollution by increasing the amount of wastewater in the area.
What are the impacts of Nutrient Neutrality on Development?
Following a November 2018 ruling in the European Court of Justice, Natural England advised local planning authorities that planning permission should not be granted for a project unless it can prove that it will achieve Nutrient Neutrality.
Some of the protected sites that were most recently added for Nutrient Neutrality consideration include the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA/Ramsar, Lindisfarne SPA/Ramsar and several catchments in the Lake District.
How can Nutrient Neutrality be achieved?
Nutrient Neutrality can be achieved through onsite and offsite mitigation measures.
Onsite mitigation measures include:
- The creation of wetlands, woodlands, Sustainable Drainage Systems, etc.
- Diversion or treatment of surface water using rain gardens, green or biodiversity roofs, infiltration systems, etc.
- Treatment works such as private water treatment plants, black water digestors and denitrifying bioreactors.
Whilst it may be possible to achieve Nutrient Neutrality onsite, it is unlikely due to the land-hungry nature of mitigation methods. Mitigation also must work in perpetuity, placing a heavy strain on developers.
Offsite mitigation involves:
- Developers looking at their land portfolio to identify less viable development land which can be used for habitat creation and mitigation.
- Paying farmers to cease agricultural activity on areas of farmland.
- Purchasing nutrient credits (Nutrient trading system not up and running in the North yet)
All offsite mitigation has to be done within the same affected catchment as the development and has to be maintained by the landowner for a minimum of 80-125 years.
Our service
Strategic offsite mitigation schemes are not currently in place in the North, making Nutrient Neutrality very difficult to achieve. Whilst these schemes are being developed, we can get you Nutrient Neutral Ready by helping you:
- Understand your nutrient budget
- Complete a HRA screening report if needed for planning validation
- Assess the water management of your site both during and post-construction
- Update your landscape plans and review affordable options for onsite reduction/mitigation
- Implement what you can onsite ASAP
- Identify offsite relationships and opportunities
- Prepare your report to inform the HRA demonstration the mitigation that can be achieved to date
- Aim to reduce your nutrient budget so you can reduce the cost and time required to achieve nutrient neutrality offsite
