The Solent Mitigation Partnership is delivering a nature recovery project on former farmland near Wellow. Situated within Test Valley Borough Council’s administrative area and the Test and Itchen Nutrient Catchment.
With agricultural use ceased, the shift in land management has significantly reduced nutrient runoff. As a result, the site has generated 1342.08 nitrogen 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:
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 Test and Itchen Nutrient Rivers 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 Test and Itchen Rivers Nutrient Catchment, or have a PtP* located within the catchment.
*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 former farmland site in Stubbington is now a nature recovery area, reducing nutrient runoff into the Solent. The project has generated over 400 verified nutrient credits to support sustainable development in the region.
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 Hampshire to deliver wastewater treatment works upgrades, enabling sustainable development.
