Work starts on tackling Stour nutrient neutrality issue

A company set up by two councils to unlock the nutrient neutrality problem affecting development in east Kent, including the derelict Debenhams and Nasons sites in Canterbury city centre, has started its work.

Stour Environmental Credits Ltd has begun soft market testing to determine current interest levels in the market.

The company was established jointly by Ashford Borough Council and Canterbury City Council in late 2024 to satisfy nutrient neutrality rules in the River Stour catchment area.

Since July 2020, certain planning applications (those providing overnight accommodation, including new housing) located within the Stour catchment and/or which discharge foul water into the catchment, need to achieve nutrient neutrality through mitigation.

The company will source the mitigation that is required through the buying and selling of mitigation credits to developers, enabling them to demonstrate that their housing schemes are nutrient neutral and can proceed.

Now, Stour Environmental Credits Ltd is gauging the level of interest in providing a solution to the issue and is looking for proposals that will deliver mitigation for both phosphorus and nitrogen in the river.

Proposals for mitigation must meet the principles that have been set out by Natural England (NE). NE has also published a methodology on this issue and the regulations that any mitigation needs to achieve.

Proposals should provide examples of evidence the idea complies with the Habitats Regulations, proof of use elsewhere and price per kg of mitigation.

They need to be submitted to Stour Environmental Credits Ltd by 10am on Wednesday 5 February via the Kent Business Portal.

Photo on this story courtesy of Simon Pettman.

Published: 10 January 2025