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Guidance: Using the nutrient neutrality calculators

Natural England

September 30
08:59 2024

Nutrient neutrality means that a new residential development will not causeincreased nutrient pollution to specific protected sites.

Developers must usenutrient budget calculations to show that their proposals will not bring about a net increase in nutrient pollution to specific habitats sites. Some local planning authorities also have their own nutrient neutrality calculators which can be used.

The nutrient neutrality calculators are for:

  • developers who need to complete a nutrient budget calculation to support a planning application
  • local planning authorities who need to understand the mitigation requirements for future development or to assess planning applications

Summary of updates in May 2024

The calculators were updated in May 2024 to:

  • reflect the list of wastewater treatment works under a duty to meet specified nutrient removal levels
  • reflect updated advice for the Poole Harbour catchment
  • correct a small number of minor data errors

27 nutrient neutrality catchments

The table shows the nutrient neutrality catchments, the nutrients that apply and designated sensitive catchments.

A designated sensitive catchment area is one in which the water company must upgrade wastewater treatment works serving a population equivalent of over 2,000 to meet specified nutrient removal levels under the Water Industry Act 1991.

Find out more in theNotice of designation of sensitive catchment areas 2024.

The calculators automatically take the upgrades into account.

Catchment Nutrient neutrality applies to: Catchment designated as nutrient sensitive for:
Chesil and the Fleet nitrogen and phosphorus not designated
Esthwaite Water phosphorus not designated
Hornsea Mere nitrogen and phosphorus not designated
Lindisfarne nitrogen not designated
Oak Mere nitrogen and phosphorus not designated
Peak District Dales phosphorus not designated
Poole Harbour nitrogen nitrogen and phosphorus
River Avon phosphorus phosphorus
River Axe phosphorus phosphorus
River Camel phosphorus phosphorus
River Clun nitrogen and phosphorus not designated
River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake phosphorus phosphorus
River Eden phosphorus phosphorus
River Itchen phosphorus phosphorus
River Kent phosphorus phosphorus
River Lambourn phosphorus phosphorus
River Lugg phosphorus not designated
River Mease phosphorus phosphorus
River Wensum phosphorus phosphorus
Roman Walls Loughs phosphorus not designated
Rostherne Mere nitrogen and phosphorus not designated
Solent nitrogen nitrogen
Somerset Levels and Moors phosphorus phosphorus
Stodmarsh nitrogen and phosphorus nitrogen and phosphorus
Teesmouth nitrogen nitrogen
The Broads nitrogen and phosphorus nitrogen and phosphorus
West Midlands Mosses nitrogen and phosphorus not designated

About the calculator

Each calculator has a cover page of instructions and 5 worksheets to complete.

Worksheet 1: Nutrients from waste water

This worksheet calculates the increase in nutrient loading that comes from a developments waste water.

Data inputs needed are:

  • date of first occupancy
  • occupancy rate
  • daily water usage
  • number of residential units
  • wastewater treatment works name

Data outputs returned: nutrients from waste water.

Worksheet 2: Nutrients from current land use

This worksheet calculates the pre-existing nutrient load from current land use on the development site.

Data inputs needed are:

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