Somerset Council will be running an ‘environmental’ call for sites exercise in May 2024. The call for sites seeks details of land to come forward to be promoted specifically for phosphate mitigation schemes and/or Biodiversity Net Gain.
The sites which are brought forward will enter negotiations to legally secure the land promoted and once contractually secured, sites can then sell the phosphate ‘credits’ and the biodiversity ‘units’ generated to developers in order meet requirements on new development sites. In the case of Biodiversity Net Gain proposals, legally secured sites will also be registered on the national biodiversity gain sites register.
Somerset Council have confirmed that, further information about the ‘environmental’ call for sites exercise and how to respond to it will be published this month.
Richard Mitchell (Associate Director) advised:
“the ‘environmental’ call for sites exercise is an important process in recognition of the need for land to be promoted given the requirements to demonstrate nutrient neutrality for sites that fall within the Somerset Levels and Moors, River Avon, Parrett and Tone catchment areas, as well as the additional need to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain for relevant sites throughout the County. This, therefore, represents a valuable opportunity at an early stage for landowners, developers, individuals, alongside other interested parties to submit their sites to the Council for inclusion within a database of sites from which potential future development sites can be selected through the local plan process.”
Should anyone believe they have a relevant site or need any assistance and guidance with this new process Chapman Lily Planning would be happy to assist further.”
