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Natural England’s nutrient mitigation scheme for developers

Apply to buy nutrient mitigation credits from Natural England to offset nutrient pollution from housing development.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
31 March 2023
Last updated:
15 June 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added a new section to raise awareness that there may be other nutrient mitigation options available to developers in the Poole Harbour catchment.

  2. Updated the information under 'Who can apply' in the Poole Harbour and Tees catchment documents. You can apply to buy nutrient credits for permanent residential developments or for holiday accommodation (including lodges, cabins, cottages and similar visitor accommodation).

  3. Updated content in the 'Details' section to reflect that hotels and guest houses are eligible to apply for credits in the Tees or Poole Harbour catchment.

  4. For Poole Harbour and Tees catchments, content updated to reflect that Nutrient Mitigation certificates are now valid for 36 weeks, with the option to grant an extension of up to 16 weeks where delays are clearly outside the applicant's control.

  5. For the Poole Harbour catchment area, Natural England has started selling credits on a continuous basis, which means that an application to buy them can be made at any time. This is a move away from the previous rounds-based system.

  6. For the Tees catchment area, Natural England has started selling credits on a continuous basis, which means that an application to buy them can be made at any time. This is a move away from the previous rounds-based system.

  7. Content updated to reflect that round 3 for the Poole Harbour catchment area has now closed. The next application round for the Poole Harbour catchment area (round 4) will open in September and will be run on an open sales basis. A specific date is to be confirmed.

  8. Guidance updated to reflect that from 1 August 2025, amendments to applications that have already been accepted may be charged a standard non-refundable admin fee of £182.50 plus VAT.

  9. Updated the guidance to highlight the importance of using the latest version of the nutrient neutrality calculators when calculating how many nutrient mitigation credits you need. Using an older version of the calculator will result in your application being rejected.

  10. Updated the application rounds timing information. Application round 3 for Poole Harbour is now open and will close at 11:55pm on 8 July 2025.

  11. Content updated to reflect that round 9 for the Tees catchment area has now closed. There are currently no application rounds open. The next application round for Poole Harbour catchment area (round 3) will open at 10am on 11 June 2025. The next application round for the Tees catchment area (round 10) opens on 13 August 2025.

  12. Added the cost of a credit in the Poole Harbour catchment area for round 3.

  13. Tees catchment area guidance updated with date for the subsequent round of applications on 13 August 2025.

  14. Updated application information: Applications are currently open for the Tees catchment area (round 9). The round closes at 11:55pm on 27 May 2025. The next application round for the Poole Harbour catchment area (round 3) opens at 10am on 11 June 2025. Terms and conditions (T&Cs) for the nutrient mitigation scheme added to the guidance.

  15. The next application round for the Poole Harbour catchment area (round 3) opens at 10am on 11 June 2025 and closes at 11:55pm on 8 July 2025.

  16. There are currently no application rounds open. The next application round for the Tees catchment area (round 9) opens at 10am on 30 April 2025. The next application round for Poole Harbour catchment area (round 3) will open later in 2025.

  17. Updated the information about the timing of application rounds: Application round 8 for the Tees catchment area is now open until 4 March 2025. There are currently no open rounds for the Poole Harbour catchment area - the next round will open later this year.

  18. Added the times that the Tees catchment application round opens and closes

  19. Added that for the Poole Harbour catchment area, short term (temporary) credits for the Dorset Council area are available from Dorset council. Added link to Dorset council's website. Added that application round 2 for the Poole Harbour catchment area is now open and closes at 11:55pm on 4 February 2025, and that the following round will be scheduled in 2025.

  20. Added the cost of a credit in the Poole Harbour catchment area round 2.

  21. Content updated to reflect that application round 7 for the Tees catchment area has now closed.

  22. Content in the Tees catchment area attachment under 'When to apply' updated to reflect the fact that applications in that area are now open.

  23. Page updated to say that applications for the Tees catchment area (round 7) are now open.

  24. Updated the cost of credits in round 7 of the Tees catchment area scheme.

  25. The dates have been updated because the Tees catchment area application round has now closed. The next dates for application rounds have been added.

  26. Removed information about application opening and closing times for the Poole Harbour catchment area as the round of applications has now closed.

  27. How to apply information updated to make the application form more visible and the instructions on how to send the application clearer.

  28. Added information about opening and closing times for the current round of applications for the Tees catchment area. Updated the text about opening and closing times for the Poole Harbour catchment area to reflect that applications are open.

  29. Dates and cost of credits added for the next round of applications in the Tees catchment area.

  30. Application form has been updated so it can be used for any open nutrient credit round.

  31. Updated information on how to apply for nutrient mitigation credits from Natural England for Tees catchment area. Added new information for Poole Harbour catchment area.

  32. Updated with the new application form, dates for the next application window and updates to the application process.

  33. Updated the guidance to indicate that the next round of applications opens in June 2024 for the Tees catchment area.

  34. Updated the when to apply section as the scheme is currently closed for applications. Removed the application form to avoid confusion.

  35. Updated the attachment 'How to apply for nutrient mitigation credits from Natural England' with links to the latest calculator for Teesmouth SPA, Ramsar, and to the new guidance to read with it.

  36. Added a new form and updated the guidance with the dates for a new round of applications.

  37. Updated the when to apply section as the scheme is now closed for applications. The next round opens in February 2024 and a new application form will be published for it.

  38. Updated details as the next round of applications opened at 10am on 2 October 2023.

  39. Updated the guidance with the next application round opening on 2 October, and added information about how credits are allocated. Also made some small updates to the application form.

  40. Updated the 'When to apply' section following the end of the current application round. Also updated the wording of 'Step 6: Send your certificate to your LPA' in order to clarify the process. Application form also removed from page whilst scheme is closed for applications. Email addresses updated to creditsales.nutrientmitigation@naturalengland.org.uk.

  41. Cover page and guidance updated as the second application round is now open. This round will close at 11:55pm on 28 July.

  42. New application form uploaded and updates made to the guidance sections on when to apply and step 2.

  43. Updated the when to apply section as the scheme is currently closed for applications. Have also taken the form off the page to avoid confusion.

  44. Made minor updates to the application form - making some wording clearer.

  45. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Poole Harbour catchment: how to apply for nutrient mitigation credits from Natural England

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Tees catchment: how to apply for nutrient mitigation credits from Natural England

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Nutrient credit application form

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Terms and conditions: nutrient mitigation scheme

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Details

Natural England sells credits on a continuous basis. Developers can apply to buy them at any time.

This guidance is for developers in the Tees or Poole Harbour catchment areas who want to:

  • offset nutrient pollution from their development by buying credits under Natural England’s nutrient mitigation scheme 
  • build new permanent residential housing, guest houses or hotel accommodation

Eligibility for guest house or hotel developments depends on the planning use class confirmed by the local planning authority.

The guidance will be updated as more catchment areas are added to the scheme.

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