Check whether your site is affected
The budget depends on the wastewater treatment works your development will connect to, or the septic tank or package treatment plant you propose, so find out where your foul drainage goes.
Work out your nutrient budget
Use the current calculator for your catchment. Each is specific to its catchment, and an out-of-date version will be rejected if you apply for Natural England credits. Each has five worksheets: nutrients from wastewater, from current land use, from future land use, removed by sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and the final budget.
The wastewater worksheet asks for the date of first occupation, the number of homes or units, and the works that serves you. Its default occupancy is 2.4 people per dwelling, which you should change only with good evidence. The final budget is the net increase multiplied by 1.2, a 20% buffer for uncertainty, and is shown in kilograms a year. If the works is due an upgrade, the calculator shows the budget before and after it.
If you use a septic tank or package treatment plant, you need a maintenance regime secured through the planning process, and a management plan if it uses chemical dosing. Submit your calculation with your planning application. The authority checks it.
Mitigate the budget
Reduce the nutrients you generate first, then offset what is left. On your own land that can mean SuDS that capture nutrients, converting farmland to woodland or wetland, or a better treatment plant. Wetlands and similar schemes may need permissions from the Environment Agency and Natural England, so talk to both early. Off site, within the same catchment, you can buy credits from a mitigation provider. Natural England runs its own credit scheme in the Tees and Poole Harbour catchments. Elsewhere, look for local authority or private schemes. Your authority decides whether the mitigation is enough and how it must be secured.
Buy credits from Natural England
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Work out your budget
Use the current calculator for your catchment and send the result with your planning application.
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Apply with a planning application reference
You need to have submitted the application, but not to have permission. Email the application form and your calculation to Natural England.
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Sign the certificate and pay the deposit
Return the signed certificate and pay the deposit on time, then send the provisional certificate to your authority.
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Pay the balance after permission
Tell Natural England once you have permission and pay the remaining cost on time, or your credits will be reallocated. You may be able to get a refund if you contact Natural England within 28 days of withdrawing the application or being refused permission.
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Send the final certificate to your authority
It confirms the conditions are met before anyone can occupy the homes.
Wastewater upgrades
The calculators already include the upgrades, which is why your date of first occupation matters.
The Nature Restoration Fund
For most environmental delivery plans, using the levy is voluntary. The first draft plan is for up to 15,780 homes.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Official guidance
Understanding the Nature Restoration Fund (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK · England
Natural England mitigation scheme (opens in a new tab)
Publication · Natural England · England
GOV.UK nutrient pollution guidance (opens in a new tab)
Publication · DEFRA · England
Using the nutrient neutrality calculators (opens in a new tab)
Natural England · England
Notice of designation of sensitive catchment areas 2024 (opens in a new tab)
Publication · DEFRA · England