At first glance, the Solent Mitigation Partnership may appear to be a new name within the environmental sector, but the team behind it has been actively working to protect the Solent since 2019.
When Natural England introduced the concept of nutrient neutrality, local councils across South Hampshire collaborated to identify practical solutions. This included the creation of a new role, a Strategic Environmental Planning Officer, to lead on this important work.
As the demand for support increased, more officers were needed to manage the workload, eventually evolving into a new Strategic Environmental Planning Team. Work streams included facilitating the development of mitigation market and conducting Supply and Demand analyses to identify areas most in need of mitigation, both in the short and long term.
In addition to its core work on nutrient neutrality, the team has engaged with Catchment Partnerships and collaborates with other organisations affected by nutrient pollution. These relationships enable us to share knowledge and best practice across the sector.
When the government launched the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, the team successfully secured funding in two rounds. This support allowed the team to expand its remit further and formally become the Solent Mitigation Partnership Team.
Today, the team continues to support local councils and partners, while also managing the fund to bring new mitigation projects to life. The team is also exploring innovative new methods to address nutrient pollution, particularly in areas where traditional approaches are not feasible.
In summary, the Solent Mitigation Partnership Team continues to play a vital role in ensuring that development across the region can proceed in a way that protects the natural environment, and it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
