Nutrient budget calculators to benefit housing developers

Housing developers facing nutrient pollution obstacles will be helped by Natural England’s release of more than 25 nutrient budget calculators
 
Global environment consulting company, Ricardo, has created these calculators for Natural England, the government's adviser for the natural environment, to allow developers to quantify the nutrient loading that new residential development will add to a site. This will ascertain the amount of mitigation required to prove nutrient neutrality.
 
Following the 2018 ‘Dutch Case’, which set higher standards for developers to help protect the environment, and advice from Natural England to local planning authorities, the issue of nutrient neutrality has brought house building to a standstill in some areas.
 
This was initially for seven regions of England, including The Solent; the River Camel in Cornwall; the River Lugg in Herefordshire; Stodmarsh in Kent; the River Avon in Hampshire; the Somerset Levels and Moors; and Poole Harbour. This month, nutrient neutrality advice was issued to planning authorities in a further 20 affected areas making the release of the calculators especially timely. 

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