DECEMBER 2023ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS REVIEW8 OPINIONIN MYIn the most sensitive catchment areas in England, Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) have been put in place. Why? To help protect key protected habitats sites including Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and sites designated under the Ramsar Convention. These habitats sites provide a network of core breeding and resting grounds to safeguard rare and threatened species.What are the implications of these NMPs and the restrictions being placed on development to prevent increased nutrient pollution? How will this affect the growth objectives of the UK as it tries to solve a housing crisis?It's not going to be easy. We must address the balancing act between building enough homes for a growing population, while protecting our ever-threatened environment.Areas Under the Spotlight Stretches of several of our rivers are within SACs and have had NMPs put in place. For example, on the River Avon, phosphorus is preventing favourable conservation status being achieved across the catchment. On the River Wye, the levels of phosphate exceed the target level in the conservation objectives, and on the River Clun--a SAC for freshwater pearl mussel--the freshwater pearl mussel population has been non-functioning since 1995 because of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment pollution. On the River Mease, excessive levels of phosphate are preventing the achievement of favourable condition. And at the Poole Harbour SPA, increasing nitrogen levels from sewage and agriculture are contributing to the growth of algal mats in the harbour, restricting food for wading birds and smothering estuarine habitats. Controlling the PollutionNMPs provide solutions to address excessive phosphorus and nitrogen, through a combined approach to tackle both point sources and diffuse sources. HOW NUTRIENT IMPACTS ON HABITATS SITES HAVE BEEN AFFECTING UK GROWTH OBJECTIVESBy Steve Mustow, Environmental Consulting & Consenting Director (Water), Stantec [NYSE: STN]Steve Mustow
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