If you have a planning application in a nutrient catchment area where nitrate or phosphate mitigation is required (such as on the Somerset Levels) you’ll know how difficult it can be to gain a successful outcome. AssetSphere’s planning team are dealing with multiple applications of different scales within the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site catchment, submitting reports and creating mitigation solutions that enable projects to achieve planning consent. Here’s a good example…
Back in January 2021, AssetSphere were instructed to prepare and submit a planning application for a farm diversification project consisting of two 2-bedroom holiday pods.
The location of the site is within the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site catchment, so any planning application involving overnight accommodation must demonstrate Nutrient Neutrality.
Our approach was to find a specialist company that could undertake the necessary calculations for us. We could then submit a report demonstrating the project was of no significant impact to the Ramsar, or create a suitable mitigation proposal.
With AssetSphere’s understanding of the client’s land and land use, a report was produced demonstrating that the project was indeed Nutrient Neutral. Following lengthy consultations with South Somerset District Council (SSDC) and Somerset Ecology Services (SES), a Habitats Regulations Assessment was produced and subsequently approved by Natural England.
While other planning issues were also successfully addresses, it was the Natural England Approval that allowed SSDC to issue the planning consent. And with thousands of planning applications getting stuck in Somerset County Council’s planning districts, achieving consent is currently considered quite a triumph!
Image courtesy of Lune Valley Pods