Nutrient Neutrality
Requirement for Nutrient Neutrality in New Development in Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
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Septic tank upgrades
Free septic tank upgrades offered to local residents to help protect High Peak's rivers!
Householders within the River Wye Catchment which runs through High Peak, are being invited to take part in this government-backed initiative to help protect the local environment.
Find out more about FREE septic tank upgrades
Issue - impact of phosphorus
The River Wye, which runs through the High Peak area, is an important and protected natural habitat. Unfortunately, the river currently has too much phosphorus, a nutrient that can harm wildlife by causing algal blooms and reduce oxygen in the water.
What is Nutrient Neutrality?
Because the river is already struggling, any new housing development could make the problem worse.
Addressing phosphate pollution is essential for the well-being of our ecosystem but also for the future of house building in the area.
To combat the growing issue, the government introduced "nutrient neutrality" to address environmental and water quality issues associated with nutrient pollution. This means house builders and developers must demonstrate how they will be net neutral when developing in specific catchments so that new development does not increase nutrient pollution.
Legal Framework
Under the Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations (2017) Natural England advises that Local Planning Authorities must consider the nutrient impacts of new development and assess whether proposals would have an adverse effect on the water catchment area.
The principles of Nutrient Neutrality can be found here Nutrient Neutrality Principles - TIN186
Why mitigation is required
Local Planning Authorities within the affected catchment area cannot grant planning permission for new residential developments that provide overnight accommodation unless it can be demonstrated, beyond reasonable doubt, that the proposal will not results in additional phosphate loading to the protected area.
The types of development affected by this advice from Natural England, and subject to a Habitats Regulations Assessment to assess the impact of phosphates, include:
- New residential units - including tourist accommodation, gypsy sites /pitches
- Commercial developments - where overnight accommodation is provided
Since receipt of Natural England's letter, the partnership has been working to minimise delay and uncertainty on planning applications.
This work includes a catchment-wide nutrient strategy. This is used to identify both short-term solutions to help clear the current backlog of planning permissions and longer-term solutions to address the existing and future growth commitments.
Mitigation options - High Peak Upgrades
To prevent making the problem worse, High Peak Borough Council must make sure that new homes do not increase the amount of phosphorus entering the river. This is a legal requirement under national nature conservation laws.
In response we have taken a proactive approach to protect local wildlife and ecosystems while enabling development to proceed via a council delivered mitigation scheme.
The High Peak Upgrade scheme reduces phosphorus elsewhere in the catchment—mainly by replacing old or poorly performing septic tanks and treatment systems with newer, cleaner ones. These upgrades permanently cut the amount of phosphorus reaching the river.
High Peak Phosphorus Credits
Working in partnership a nutrient offset credit scheme is now being developed- High Peak Phosphorus Credits. The credit scheme will help developers achieve nutrient neutrality by offsetting excess nutrient output through the purchase of credits. More details on this credit scheme will be published in due course.
Please complete our expression of interest form if you would like to find out more about this.
Tools and resources
Mapping of the catchment areas affected by nutrient neutrality in can be found on Defra's Magic Maps application. The map layers to follow are: Designations - Land Based Designations - Statutory - Nutrient Neutrality Catchments.
Nutrient budget calculator
Using the nutrient neutrality calculators - GOV.UK
Peak District Dales SAC: nutrient neutrality calculator - GOV.UK
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