Credit Allocation Policy
We are making it easier to be nutrient neutral across River Stour Catchment. Please see our Operational Process Flow Diagram [pdf] 72KB that depicts our partnership working procedures.
This Credit Allocation Policy sets out how Total Phosphorus (TP – hereafter referred to as Phosphorus) and Total Nitrogen (TN – hereafter referred to as Nitrogen) credits will be made available to developers when Nutrient Neutrality mitigation in the Stour catchment of Stodmarsh is traded by Stour Environmental Credits Ltd (SEC). The approach set out in this Policy is expected to evolve over time to reflect changing demand for credits, most notably as the backlog of Planning Applications is unlocked and the development sector across the Stour Catchment moves into steady state.
Types of nutrient credits
SEC will be trading impermanent and permanent credits for Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Impermanent credits fall into two categories:
Bridging credits will be used as an interim solution prior to a permanent mitigation solution coming online.
Temporary credits will provide a short-term mitigation where development sites require Phosphorus and/or Nitrogen credits prior to the planned upgrades to Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTWs) in 2030 to meet Technical Achievable Limits (TAL).
Permanent credits will be provided in perpetuity (90+ years) and are intended to mitigate the long-term nutrient loads arising from new development.
Operational Process Diagram [pdf] 72KB
Credit Allocation Policy Frequenty Asked Questions [pdf] 170KB
