REVEALED: Progress on Nutrient Neutrality issue

New details have emerged from Norfolk planning authorities concerning the ongoing nutrient neutrality issue.

Local councils, the Broads Authority and consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV have released new information in the quest for progress on the nutrient neutrality issue raised earlier this year by Natural England.

Included in the new details are more informative plans of the catchment areas of the River Bure, Wensum and Yare.

These plans also identify where the current Wastewater Treatment Works are located within the affected areas and offer a more detailed nutrient budget calculator.

This calculator has been published for the River Wensum SAC and Broads SAC.

It refines the initial calculator used nationally by Natural England and makes it more specific to Norfolk by identifying, for example, the levels of rainfall experienced in the area, the soil types and the reduced occupancy level in homes. For example, usually the national average is 2.4 persons per household, whilst in Norfolk it is 1.89 persons.

By refining these factors, it is hoped that the impact of any residential development can be correctly identified.

The councils are, however, still to develop a suite of mitigation measures that developers can either undertake as on-site solutions or buy into via a tariff system to be managed by the local authorities.

We will continue to update on this issue as it unfolds.

To see the new calculator and details, contact our Planning experts in Norwich; Paul Clarke, Head of Planning, or Matthew Rooke, Divisional Partner, by contacting them on 01603 629871 or email paul.clarke@brown-co.com or matthew.rooke@brown-co.com