Manor Farm Phosphate Mitigation Scheme provides phosphate credits in the Brue and Axe Catchment in Somerset.
What is Nutrient Neutrality?
Nutrient Neutrality was introduced by Natural England in 2020, it was introduced to stop pollution to watercourses and other protected wetland habitats. The new guidelines came after the Dutch Nitrogen Case which showed many protected wetland sites being in “unfavourable condition” as a result of nutrient pollution from farming and residential waste water. This nutrient pollution causes a process called “eutrophication” which is when an algal bloom starves the water of oxygen damaging the wildlife in the ecosystem.
Nutrient Neutrality means that all residential developments must not emit more pollution from wastewater than the previous land use. This can be prevented by various mitigation methods including land fallowing, package treatment plants and buying credits from an approved scheme. Planning permission cannot be granted without evidence that the development will be nutrient neutral.
The story
After working closely with Natural England and Somerset Council, Manor Farm became a registered Phosphate Mitigation Scheme in May 2023. The aim of the scheme was to provide much needed Phosphate Credits to unlock the backlog of homes within Somerset. The scheme involved the generation of credits from the ceasing of use of a dairy farm and other livestock raising on the site. The site provides 142.7 phosphate credits with 1kg of phosphate equalling 1 credit.
The site provides phosphate credits to all sizes of developments from single houses to larger strategic sites.
To find out more please click the link below.