Nutrient Neutrality in the Hampshire Avon

 The Nutrient Neutrality zone in the Hampshire Avon catchment covers the River Avon Special Area of Conservation. This region includes the following Local Planning Authorities (LPAs):

• New Forest LPA
• New Forest National Park LPA
• Wiltshire LPA
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole LPA
• Test Valley LPA
• Dorset LPA

The area boundary stretches from where the river meets the sea just east of Bournemouth, north north west up to just north of Sixpenny Handley. It then travels due west to Shaftesbury before turning north to West Knoyle. It then travels west to Hardway before turning north east under Trowbridge and under Devizes (so both are excluded) to just north of Devizes. It then travels due west to Burbage.  It then drops due south back to the river mouth near Bournemouth. In this drop the boundary passes just to the east of Salisbury to include it within the catchment.  

The Hampshire Avon catchment is impacted by both nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P). 

 The mitigation market in the catchment is weak due to very limited supply of both nitrogen and phosphate credits.  Credit prices being paid are high on a per house basis. Typically these are in the region of £6,000 to £10,000 per house. 

The area has a variety of levels of nutrient stripping technology at the waterworks with ranges of 0.1kg to 0.89kg required per house. This creates significant opportunities for landowners looking at mitigation schemes.  

We forecast demand outstripping supply for at least the next 24 months despite new schemes coming online (see below)