Nitrates & Phosphate Credits

Excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates are created through man made sources, fertilisers for example, used in farming. Housing developments and construction sites also add to the problem with extra wastewater, sewage and urban run-off.

This pollution raises levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen which can speed up the growth of algae in water. This process, called ‘eutrophication’, degrades the quality of the water and harms wildlife.

 

As a short-term solution Natural England describes nutrient neutrality as a means of ensuring that a development plan or project does not add to existing nutrient burdens within catchments. This is to ensure there is no net increase in nutrients as a result of the plan or project. Where neutrality measures are needed, the purpose of these mitigation measures is to avoid impacts to the designated sites, rather than compensating for the impacts once they have occurred.

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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.

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Via our strategic mitigation schemes, we are able to assist developers with offsite mitigation solutions which can help much needed development projects to come forwards to support local community’s needs.