Additional National Advice from Natural England

The Council’s within Somerset received additional national advice from Natural England.  The Natural England documents comprised:

• Water Quality and Nutrient Neutrality Advice Letter dated 16 March 2022.
• Nutrient Neutrality Principles dated February 2022.
• Nutrient Neutrality – A Summary Guide.

Provisional national tools and methodologies

• Natural England generic Nutrient Neutrality Methodology dated February 2022.
• Natural England generic catchment calculator dated March 2022.

Following the release of additional national advice from Natural England on matters relating to nutrient neutrality on 16 March 2022. This is a joint statement by the former Somerset planning authorities, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water.

For nutrient neutrality for development proposals that could affect the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site, the requirements of the Natural England advice issued on 16 March 2022 apply to areas of risk. These risks had been identified in the recently updated catchment map published by the former Somerset planning authorities on 16 March 2022.

However, until advised otherwise: the Natural England generic nutrient neutrality methodology and catchment calculator should not be used. They are provisional national tools and methodologies and will be reviewed locally before any changes are made to the existing approach.  Accordingly, with regard to the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site, decisions on affected planning applications will continue to be based upon the use of the Somerset phosphate calculator.