Nutrient credits

Nutrient credits are available within the Stour catchment to purchase as a method to achieve nutrient neutrality. This website sets out the process and links to known credit providers.

Credit process

Developers and applicants will be required to identify nutrient mitigation to offset the nutrient load generated. The steps below explain the process for applicants purchasing nutrient credits:

1. Calculate the nutrient load of the development, using the Natural England Nutrient Neutrality Calculator.
2. Purchase nutrient credits from credit providers.
3. The credit provider will issue a ‘nutrient credit certificate’.
4. Submit the ‘nutrient credit certificate’ to the Local Planning Authority as part of the planning application.
5. The Local Planning Authority undertakes an Appropriate Assessment.
6. Natural England will be consulted on the draft Appropriate Assessment by the Local Planning Authority.
7. The Appropriate Assessment is finalised by the Local Planning Authority.
8. If a scheme passes an Appropriate Assessment, planning permission can be granted (occupancy restrictions may apply, see below for further information).

Occupation restrictions

Depending on the credit scheme, there may need to be a restrict occupancy until certain criteria are met. For example:

• If the credit scheme is not fully delivered – e.g. the mitigation works haven’t commenced or are still being constructed, and/or
• Credits are reserved via a deposit and a full payment is due after the grant of planning permission.

Where this applies, further information may be required to be submitted prior to the occupation of the proposed development to ensure that the credit scheme has been fully delivered and is operational and/or credits have been fully ‘allocated’ to the development.

Credit providers

The table below identifies credit providers that have passed an ‘strategic’ Appropriate Assessment by the Council. For these schemes, nutrient credits generated from the projects named below can be relied on for granting planning permissions.