Nutrient Neutrality Validation Guidance

Nutrient Neutrality information is required before a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority is validated, where the proposed development is in one of the Nutrient Neutrality catchment areas and is for:

  • agricultural development which will result in an increase in stock numbers; or
  • new overnight accommodation (including new dwellings, new camping, glamping or caravan pitches served by on-site toilet or washing facilities, or new hotel bedroom accommodation); or
  • new tourism development likely to increase the number of day visitors to a premises; (where such developments would be served by mains, package treatment plant, septic tank or cess pool sewerage)

In addition to the above, there may be occasions when specific developments do make an impact to NN. Should that prove to be the case, we will request additional info.

Nutrient Neutrality Partner logo

If you would like to know more about Nutrient Neutrality and the partnership tasked with finding solutions, please check out our webpages:

Nutrient Neutrality North West

Further Information with planning guidance will be available soon here

Step-by-step guide:

Option 1
Option 2
  • Evidence that all thresholds for small discharges to ground are met, and therefore development represents an insignificant discharge to the catchment. Details can be found on page 21 of the Natural England Nutrient Neutrality Advice letters for each catchment.

Applications which must consider Nutrient Neutrality but do not follow either option 1 or 2 will not be considered valid. We will inform applicants whether their application is invalid or not. If invalid, we will let you know what is required.