We're developing a programme to reduce the impact of development in the River Camel area. This is the homepage for our long-term mitigation strategy. It contains information on:
- developing the strategy
- the mitigation measures we are planning
- the potential credit scheme
Visit the Nutrient neutrality in Cornwall page for all our phosphate pollution information.
Background
Phosphate pollution is affecting the River Camel. Natural England feels the habitat of the river is ‘unfavourable’. Wastewater from new developments can make things worse. We can only approve developments that are 'nutrient neutral'.
The issue is complex, and we need help to address it, but we are not alone. We are learning from other local planning authorities with similar challenges.
Mitigation measures can help prevent further phosphate pollution. These can be on the site of a development or elsewhere in the river catchment area. Not all developers can offer on-site measures or negotiate off-site ones without help.
We have been developing a long-term strategy with the right mix of measures. This will help developers with the mitigation they need to unlock paused developments. The aim is to give developers confidence to continue investing in the area. It will help the council progress with its key home-building plans. It will also provide other social, economic, and environmental benefits for North Cornwall.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is contributing £2 million. Cornwall Council is supplementing this with funds from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). South West Water has funded complementary work with the Westcountry Rivers Trust.
You can find more information in the River Camel Phosphate Strategy literature review.
Our mitigation strategy
We have developed our programme in light of legislation, policy, and evidence. It reflects South West Water’s timetable for upgrading its wastewater treatment works.
We released our draft report on possible mitigation measures in 2022. Our programme has been evolving since then. We have also worked with Natural England to update our phosphate calculator. The calculator identifies the impact of planning applications on phosphate pollution in Cornwall. It outlines the level of mitigation required for a period of 80 years.
- Read our draft report at: River Camel Phosphate Mitigation Solutions Report
- The phosphate calculator is on our Nutrient neutrality and planning applications page
We have continued to consult national and local partners and stakeholders, including:
- Natural England, the Environment Agency, and South West Water
- Westcountry Rivers Trust, National Farmers Union, developers, agents, consultants and landowners
Our mitigation strategy includes:
- constructing wetlands
- upgrading household and campsite septic tanks/package treatment plants
- nature-based measures
The strategy will create a phosphate credit scheme. Legislation requires water companies to upgrade their wastewater treatment works by 2030. There will be a need for temporary credits until then. Permanent credits will need to be available for areas not improved by South West Water. They will also need to be available after 2030.
Planning applicants can buy credits to mitigate the phosphate pollution caused by development. This will unblock applications so they can progress. We will reinvest money from credit sales in the programme. It will help pay for the ongoing costs of managing credits and maintaining mitigations.
Maintaining the momentum with mitigation
We are hoping to create several new wetlands. These will clean the water entering the river downstream from wastewater treatment plants. We have set up a capital project to manage the wetlands part of our programme. We have made good progress in negotiations to buy sites that can meet our needs. We will streamline design and construction through the planning process. We wetlands should create a large number of permanent credits to mitigate development.
Septic tanks are inefficient at removing phosphates compared with modern treatment plants. Replacing and maintaining them can reduce pollution in the catchment. There is much interest in our plan to replace old septic tanks at homes and campsites with newer systems. This involves grants for property owners to replace their septic tanks. There will be conditions for long-term maintenance. We are working on ways to remove obstacles in the planning system to help.
This scheme will create permanent credits to mitigate development.
As we work on our wetlands and septic tank plans, we’re exploring nature-based solutions. These will help us create temporary phosphate credits in the meantime. We are working with Westcountry Rivers Trust to help farmers generate credits. Nature-based measures include:
- buffer strips
- taking land out of agricultural use
- establishing woodlands
Nature-based solutions usually create temporary credits. Some can help in the longer term.
Several farmers and landowners are interested in our plans and the help we can provide.
Developing the credit scheme
We have also been making progress with developing the scheme that enables us to sell credits. This involves:
- securing the mitigation measures in legal terms
- agreeing the measures with Natural England
- a process for managing the credits
If all the plans progress on schedule, credits could be available from late autumn 2025. Not all processes are within our control, and the timetable will depend on:
- buying and changing the use of land
- planning application processes
- expediting projects where we can.
The programme should enable development in our current local plan targets. We will prioritise affordable housing, small developers, and community business led schemes. We will issue credits by the age of an application, in validation date order.