fbpx

Nutrient Neutrality Assessments

A Nutrient Neutrality Assessment and Mitigation Strategy (NNAMS) is the report that demonstrates how a development meets the requirements for nutrient neutrality. All developments within certain designated areas require a NNAMS.

Many LPAs also now require an applicant to provide a Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (sHRA) to determine a planning application.

Whatever the stage in your planning journey, WCI has the expertise to help minimise delays.

Submit a NAMMS request

Request more information or call us on 01984 623 404 to discuss your requirements and unlock your planning with WCI.

INDUSTRY LEADING, PROVEN RESULTS

WCI has produced over 500 Nutrient Neutrality Assessment Strategy reports for a wide range of developments across many Local Planning Authorities including:

Somerset West & Taunton Council  |  South Somerset District Council  |  Mendip District Council  |  East Devon District Council  |  Cornwall Council  |  Dorset Council  |  Sedgemoor District Council  |  Wiltshire Council  |  Exmoor National Park Authority  |  And more to be confirmed…

WHY CHOOSE WCI?

WCI has a strong working relationship with both Natural England and the LPAs, achieving notable successes in defining nutrient neutrality strategies that gained Natural England and Planning Authority approval.

Our reports provide developers with clear guidance on the scale of the phosphates generated from the proposed development, options for mitigating these phosphates and probable costs.

We complement all agreed phosphate strategies with a ‘Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (sHRA) to speed up the process of achieving Planning Approval.

GET YOUR DEVELOPMENT BACK ON TRACK

PHOSPHATE BALANCE EXPLAINED

A phosphate balance is calculated by assessing phosphate contributions from both changes in land use and changes in occupation, each requiring specific methodologies and guidance. This assessment is crucial for understanding the overall phosphate impact of development projects and for achieving nutrient neutrality.

Once the ‘phosphate balance’ for a development has been established, it is likely that there will be a residual amount of ‘Total Phosphorus’ which must be offset elsewhere in order for the development to be deemed nutrient neutral.

Identifying how and where this offset is achieved is called the Mitigation Strategy. 

Mitigation strategies can include ‘on-site’ (within the development boundary) or ‘off-site’ (on third party land) offsets. Offsets can also be based on land use mitigation (changing land use to reduce phosphates) or occupation mitigation (improving on the phosphates discharged from a site through the foul drainage system).

CHANGES IN OCCUPATION

Any NNAMS must start with establishing the foul drainage strategy for the development. This determines what the sewage treatment method will be and subsequently how much the treatment will reduce phosphates.

The foul drainage strategy for the development remains subject to all the normal Planning Regulations, Building Regulations, Environmental Permitting Regulations and the Water Industry regulations. 

Establishing a functional and compliant foul drainage strategy has never been easy and corners can’t be cut because you need to achieve nutrient neutrality.

CHANGES IN LAND USE

The way in which land is used can also result in nutrients reaching a watercourse. For example, the idea of land used for dairy farming. 

This land will receive nutrients, either through livestock defecation or through fertilisation, and some of this will be washed off into surrounding watercourses.

Changing the nature of the land use then implies a change in the nutrient balance for that area of land. 

It is this change in land use that defines the ‘land use’ phosphate balance for a proposed development.

 

WCI have experience with all the various methodologies employed for the calculation of ‘Total Nitrogen’ (TP) and ‘Total Phosphorus’ (TP) including the Royal Haskoning method employed by many LPAs and the Ricardo method promoted by Natural England.

THE WCI DIFFRENCE

Want honest, knowledgeable advice on how to achieve Nutrient Neutrality for your development?

Call 01984 623404 and speak with a WCI Nutrient Neutrality advisor and get your planning back on track.

request information