Information for developers, landowners and managers about how Dorset Council will secure Nitrogen Neutrality for planned development. Find out why it is important and how we will work in partnership to deliver it.
See a general introduction to nutrient pollution, nutrient neutrality and the catchments where this applies in Dorset Council.
Poole Harbour Nutrient Mitigation
Mitigation for development in Poole Harbour can be delivered anywhere within the Poole Harbour Catchment area.
Developers have the choice of securing mitigation by:
- providing it on-site or on land in their ownership
- or purchasing N credits from:
- the Natural England National Mitigation Scheme
- an accredited third party mitigation provider
- the Dorset Council and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) nutrient mitigation scheme
Council Mitigation Scheme
Dorset Council has been awarded £4.63m of grant funding from government to aid the delivery of nitrogen mitigation within the Poole Harbour catchment. This will enable both Dorset Council and BCP Council to identify and deliver both nature-based and greywater mitigation projects and to sell nutrient mitigation credits. The receipts from the sale of these credits will be reinvested to deliver further nitrogen mitigation projects.
The council also consider secondary environmental and social benefits such as nature recovery, natural flood management and public access to green spaces.
How we plan to do this
The councils will bring forward a range of mitigation projects. Projects will involve
- land management change to reduce the inputs which may enter groundwater, streams and rivers within the catchment
- creation of bespoke wetlands to remove nutrients from watercourses
- landscape scale projects to achieve multiple objectives in addition to nitrogen mitigation such as river restoration/rehabilitation and flood alleviation
- upgrading septic tanks to package treatment plants
This may involve land purchase or working with farmers and landowners to secure land-use change. See our guidance note for further guidance.
The governance
Mitigation projects will be delivered by Dorset Council’s nutrient delivery team after approval from a steering group and senior officers in the council. Significant projects will be approved by the council cabinet. The council will take account of market rates and where appropriate seek professional guidance to help inform decisions.
Wild Woodbury
Dorset Wildlife Trust’s flagship Rewilding Reserve, where nature recovery and community involvement remains at its heart, is the council’s largest Nitrogen Mitigation site at 158 hectares. With the removal of inputs and a change in management, the land has been transformed from arable land to species-rich scrub, wood pasture and wetland further improving water quality and encouraging new and rare species to take up home.
Tadnoll and Winfrith
8.2 hectares of improved pasture has been added to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Tadnoll and Winfrith Reserve. The land will be managed with no inputs, hay cuts and conservation grazing helping to further remove nutrients. A naturalised wetland system, with ditch blocking and leaky dams to slow water flows and add flood resilience, will also filter more nutrients and create wetland habitats.
How you can apply
If you would like an informal conversation about your land or you would like to propose a potential project, please contact us. Alternatively register your interest through our Call for Land.