Introduction
Somerset Council has launched a ‘call for sites’ which will run for 8 weeks from 20 May 2024. The deadline for submissions is 15 July 2024.
Please note, the window for submitting a site to the call for sites has now closed. We are now assessing submitted sites and will be in touch with applicants in due course.
The ‘call for sites’ seeks submissions of land for the potential delivery of phosphate mitigation schemes (with nutrient mitigation funding available to assist delivery, subject to eligibility criteria) and/or Biodiversity Net Gain schemes, to support the delivery of new development in Somerset.
This responds to commitments the Council has made in its Interim Delivery Strategy for the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund and in the Somerset Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance Note to run a ‘call for sites’ to identify, assess, prioritise and enable suitable off-site solutions in Somerset.
The ‘call for sites’ aims to understand the level of interest from landowners, land promoters and land managers, with sites put forward to be assessed through a transparent process and criteria. Prioritised sites will then go on to enter negotiations to legally secure the promoted land for these purposes with the Council.
Once legally secured (and, in the case of Biodiversity Net Gain proposals, registered on the national biodiversity gain sites register), sites can then sell phosphate credits and biodiversity units generated to developers for their use in meeting requirements on new development sites.
By legally securing the right phosphate mitigation and Biodiversity Net Gain sites in the right places, the Council is able to support the delivery of new development in Somerset, deliver for nature recovery, and maximise wider benefits to Somerset.
Submit a site
Before submitting your site, please review our comprehensive submission guidance. This explains more about the ‘call for sites’ process, our transparent assessment criteria and what we are looking for in submissions and why. The guidance is set out in a question-and-answer style to make it easy to navigate. The guidance also includes a full list of the questions that you will be asked in the survey, to help you prepare your submission.
The portal for submitting sites this time around has now closed.
If you have already submitted a site and wish to provide further information to support your submission or have been asked to submit further information for clarity, then you can do so by emailing localplanningpolicy@somerset.gov.uk.
However, please note that Stage 1a assessments will be undertaken based on information submitted via the platform within the call for sites window. Therefore, if a site was submitted without essential information (such as documents which were a pass/fail at stage 1a), but these are then provided after the cut off date, this will not generally be accepted for this round.
Online briefing session
On Friday 24 May 2024 we held an online briefing session to provide further information about the ‘call for sites’ and answer questions. A recording of the session can be found below alongside the presentation slides.
Environmental Call for Sites – Public briefing session recording
Funding opportunity
In addition to being legally secured, phosphate mitigation schemes submitted to the ‘call for sites’ may also qualify for capital funding through the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund. In appropriate circumstances, the Council will consider using funding to bulk-buy generated P-Credits. This funding is not available for Biodiversity net gain schemes. More details are available in the submission guidance above.
Background
Many developments are legally required to demonstrate ‘nutrient neutrality’ and a Biodiversity Net Gain. In both cases, an important option to achieve these requirements is through the purchase of ‘off-site’ nutrient (phosphate) credits (P-Credits) or biodiversity units as necessary. These off-site solutions need to be legally secured, and the Council plays an important role in this. Visit Phosphates and Biodiversity Net Gain web pages or read through the submission guidance above to find out more about these issues.
Once legally secured (and, in the case of Biodiversity Net Gain proposals, registered on the national biodiversity gain sites register), sites can then sell phosphate credits and biodiversity units generated to developers for their use in meeting requirements on new development sites.
Phosphate mitigation schemes may also be eligible for capital funding via the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund. In appropriate circumstances, the Council will consider using LNMF funding to bulk-buy generated P-Credits. Note, this funding is not available for Biodiversity Net Gain schemes.