The Solent Mitigation Partnership, working with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, is delivering a nature recovery project on former farmland in Stubbington.
Situated within Fareham Borough Council’s administrative area and the East Hampshire Rivers Nutrient Catchment, the land was previously used for farming. Over time, fertiliser use contributed to the nutrient rich runoff entering nearby watercourses and flowed into the Solent via the River Meon, impacting water quality and delicate ecosystems.
With agricultural use now ended, the shift in land management has significantly reduced nutrient runoff. As a result, the site has generated 417.53 nutrient credits to help offset the impact of future development across the catchment area. Natural England has verified this total and identified the area where they can be used to mitigate nutrient impacts.
To purchase or reserve credits from this scheme, the development must satisfy condition 1, and either condition 2 or condition 3.
Developments must be located in one of the following Local Planning Authorities to be eligible to purchase credits:
Please note: This scheme does not cover developments within Portsmouth City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, or the South Downs National Park Authority. For more information, please visit their websites:
A river catchment refers to the area of land where rainwater flows into a specific river or stream; it includes the river itself and all smaller streams and tributaries that feed into it.
To be eligible, a development must be located within the East Hampshire Rivers Nutrient Catchment.
Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), also known as Sewage Treatment Works (STW), are facilities designed to treat wastewater, so it is safe to discharge into the environment.
To be eligible for this scheme, the development must be connected to a WwTW that drains into the East Hampshire Rivers Nutrient Catchment (for example, Peel Common or Budds Farm), or have a PtP* located within the catchment. This scheme can also serve developments connected to Ashlett Creek WwTW in the New Forest.
*A package treatment plant is a self-contained system designed to treat wastewater on-site, typically in locations where connection to a main sewer line is not feasible.
A new scheme in Winchester will reduce nutrient pollution in the River Itchen by upgrading council-owned septic tanks. This will generate verified nutrient credits, helping unlock housing development while protecting the area’s sensitive ecosystems.
The Solent Mitigation Partnership is working across the Solent region to deliver wastewater treatment works upgrades, enabling sustainable development.
