Government and Natural England advice

Natural England (NE) published updated guidance in November 2022.  NECR459 Edition 1 Nutrient Neutrality Generic Methodology updated the previous document in March.

NE released a new national approach in March 2022.  It included tools and guidance on nutrients mitigation.  The guidance included: 

• Nutrient Neutrality principles - February 2022
• Nutrient Neutral Generic Methodology (since updated)
• Nutrient Neutrality Summary Guide

Natural England also released a new calculator for completing a nutrient budget.  We discussed this with NE and have issued an updated Cornwall Council calculator.  You will need to rerun phosphate budget calculations for pending planning applications. You can find full details on our Nutrient neutrality and planning applications webpage.

Please note the March letter from NE only affects the River Camel.  There are no new areas affected by nutrient neutrality in Cornwall.

Related press releases

• Nutrient pollution: reducing the impact on protected sites GOV.UK
• Delivering on the Environment Act: new targets and plans for nature recovery

Nutrient Mitigation Scheme update

The Government announced this scheme in July 2022.  It will allow swifter decisions to enable the building of homes.  NE is currently identifying places most likely to be suitable for nutrient mitigation provision.  They will invite selected landowners from December to offer land as potential sites.  All developers may use the scheme.  It will include credits offered in batches for which developers can apply.  NE set out this update in their letter to Local Planning Authorities on 25 November 2022.

You can find more details about the new scheme to protect our waterways.

We continue to work with Royal HaskoningDHV on a strategic mitigation strategy.  You can find more information on the strategy work in the River Camel Phosphate Strategy Literature Review.