What is Nitrate Neutrality?
Nitrate neutrality is about the nutrient pollution caused by typically nitrates and phosphates. The obligation of landscape developers is to ensure that these nutrients are not increasing as a result of landscape development projects.
Protecting the natural nutrients within the natural water systems is important to plant ecosystems and wildlife. When damage is caused, algae growth can increase, reducing the oxygen in the water, killing fish and destroying the ecology. In some local areas, authorities cannot grant planning permission until suitable mitigation is in place to support the developments.
How is it achieved?
For land project developers, they need to demonstrate that their projects won’t increase the level of nutrients in rivers to ensure they get their desired planning permission. The amount of water runoff from the development is also assessed so an appropriate plan can be established.
Once the impacts of a development project are calculated, appropriate mitigation can be put in place to filter out nutrients, or upgrade the sewage treatments. Measures are usually taken outside of the development being planned. Councils work to design and deliver these measures, however until this process is carried out, planning applications cna be a little more difficult to secure.
Government action
Government action for nitrate neutrality has meant that by law, water companies will be required to upgrade their sewage treatment works in certain areas.
Additionally, working closely with Natural England, a Nutrient Mitigation Scheme will be put in place. This will involve nature-based resolutions such as creating new wetlands and woodlands to filter out pollutants. Hopefully, this will help with the project development planning process, however acquiring planning permission may still pose a challenge.
How does this impact me?
This may seem like an extra hurdle to secure planning permission, but, engaging with the council as soon as possible is a good way to ensure that your project or site can benefit from capacity of mitigation. Each mitigation scheme is limited in the amount of properties it can support, as it can only stop the flow of a limited amount of nutrients into watercourses.
Using architects and thorough ecological surveys will help you determine the requirements that your project will need.
Our services
At Lizard Landscaping Design and Ecology, we can provide Nitrate budget calculations to determine mitigation requirements. We have associations with local mitigation schemes who help maximise the efficiency of mitigation, providing suitable habitats for wildlife and locals.
We are experts in producing high quality management plans to help you with your projects. If you’re interested in finding out more about our services, or enquiries you can contact us to speak to one of our staff members today.