Potential Third Party Phosphate Mitigation Schemes in the Somerset Levels and Moors Catchment Area
There are various phosphate (P) credit schemes currently operating within the river catchment areas of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site. The map below shows each of these river catchment areas.
P mitigation must be delivered on a catchment-by-catchment basis i.e. if your proposed development is in the River Brue catchment area, your P mitigation (e.g. credits) must also be in the River Brue catchment area.
Somerset Council has prepared a list of potential P mitigation schemes operating in the River Brue, the River Parrett and the River Tone catchment areas. This can be found at the link below.
This list covers mitigation schemes operated by third parties. Somerset Council also has a council-led P-credit scheme in operation in the River Tone catchment area and more information on this is available here.
Please note the list of mitigation schemes within the link below is not exhaustive, it may not cover all P mitigation schemes in operation across Somerset. Somerset Council is not recommending any particular P mitigation scheme. Nor does the Council ‘accredit’ any particular P mitigation provider. The table simply lists potential schemes known to the Council and with appropriate processes in place with the Council to allow us to progress planning applications linked to these P-credits.
It is the responsibility of the developer/applicant to seek a phosphate mitigation solution to support their planning application as explained in the Nutrient Neutrality: Guide for Applicants, available here. P-credits from third-parties are acquired at the applicant’s own risk.
Table of potential mitigation schemes.
If you are a P mitigation provider with a potential P mitigation scheme, we recommend early engagement with Somerset Council to ensure that appropriate processes are in place to allow the Council to be able to progress planning applications linked to your third-party credit scheme. We also require all third-party P-credit schemes to have the technical approval of Natural England, and we recommend that Natural England approval is also sought at the outset of the process and confirmation of this approval is submitted to Somerset Council with details of the proposed mitigation scheme.
If you have a proposed P mitigation scheme you would like to discuss with Somerset Council, please email SES@somerset.gov.uk or phosphates@somerset.gov.uk.