Issue - meetings

The report set out that the water quality of the River Axe Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been a concern for a long time. The River Axe SAC is in unfavourable and declining status owing to nutrient enrichment and sediment pollution. A condition assessment and evidence report by Natural England in June 2024 on the River Axe SAC stated that “recent water quality measurements for the River Axe within the SAC show phosphorous concentrations to be exceeding the targets for all units.”

The Council, as the Competent Authority under the Habitat Regulations 2017, is required to consider the implications of these matters on the River Axe SAC before permitting any further development which has the potential to result in additional phosphate loads entering the catchment.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining a proposal for £4 million was made by the Council as lead authority in collaboration with both Dorset and Somerset Councils (who have parts of the River Axe SAC catchment within their boundaries) in April 2024 to Round 2 of the Government’s Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund.

The recent Budget on the 30 October 2024 unexpectedly announced and included £4.09 million allocated to East Devon District Council and the River Axe catchment as one of the seven successful EOIs that were made in

England. Also awarded was an additional £192,494 in capacity support funding along with a further £100,000 through the Nutrient Support Fund.

Not all developers have practical capacity to mitigate phosphates on site or the means to negotiate off-site mitigations directly. To unlock this position, it is therefore necessary for the Council to facilitate a scheme to fund schemes that create mitigation credits, which it can then allocate to facilitate development.

The proposed approach set out in the report was focussed on three mitigation categories:

1.     Nature Based Solutions such as constructed wetlands;

2.     Upgrading of packaged treatment works and septic tanks;

3.     Water saving measures on council house stock connected to permitted Waste water Treatment Works (470 units).

The programme would be delivered in partnership with Dorset Council, Somerset Council and the Westcountry Rivers Trust.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management referred to the recommendations and advised that as Cabinet had already endorsed the recommendations at its meeting on 27 November 2024 the report was for noting.

RESOLVED:

That Strategic Planning Committee welcome the outcome of the bid and note the report.