This article from Tessa Jones, Planning Consultant at The Rural Planning Co gives an insight into the challenges surrounding the industry and the importance of demonstrating that schemes are nutrient neutral.

Tessa's thoughts... It’s safe to say water pollution is having a serious impact on the delivery of new housing in areas across the country. I was alarmed to read in July’s edition of The Planner that nutrient issues are now affecting new developments in 74 of our local planning authorities (LPA) and it is estimated to be holding up the delivery of 100,000 new homes.

Why?

In summary, government bodies are toughening up on the water quality requirements in areas within certain European Designated Sites – think dying snails in the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation (SAC), for example. What seems to be making this issue more prevalent is that most of these designated sites are waterbodies with vast catchments, meaning large swathes of land are being caught up in the issue.

What does this mean for planning?

Any new development which would lead to an increase in the relevant nutrient levels will simply not be permitted or, as we have been seeing, are left undecided until someone can work out if that’s the case!

But there does seem to be a glimmer of light at the end of this particular tunnel. LPAs with input from Natural England (NE), in short, are now requiring developments to demonstrate that they are “nutrient neutral”. This means that the nutrients (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) from all surface water runoff and wastewater generated by the development, will be less than or equal to the nutrients generated by the existing land use. Whilst this seems straight forwards, don’t be fooled – LPAs and NE are still in the early days of this and their resource levels don’t appear to be improving, so delays and caution are still be expected!

However, positively, NE have proposed to set out the detail of this in the newly funded Nutrient Mitigation Scheme.

How can we help you?

To help existing and future clients, we are exploring with the help of a hydrogeologist and other passionate individuals, to understand how we can demonstrate that our schemes are nutrient neutral.

There are several different ways this can be achieved:

  • Demonstrate mitigation on or off-site though detailed drainage systems, tree planting and habitat creation; or
  • Buying nutrient credits, which essentially is paying someone else to do the above for you!

Going forwards when I am asked to appraise new development sites, I always check to see if nutrient loading is an issue within the area, and also check whether the site is in the catchment area of a protected site with declining conservation status (there’s a school of thought that these sites will be designated next).

If you would like to talk to us about your site, please do not hesitate to get in touch and arrange a free 15 minute chat with one of our team.

We are also keen to speak to landowners who are interested in providing land for nutrient credit banking and we would be delighted to assist if any of you are experiencing issues with this.