A DEAL has been agreed to protect habitats in the Solent from nitrates.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is moving forward with new policy which is aimed at helping to protect internationally designated habitats in the Solent.

'Credits' have been purchased by the council from countryside land in the South of the borough to help mitigate increases in nitrates from new developments.

This comes as excessive nitrates in the water are said to be having an adverse impact on habitats and species.

Over the past two years, following Natural England advice, planning applications for residential development and overnight accommodation submitted to the council have required mitigation for any potential impact from the additional levels of nitrates they would generate from wastewater and land use change.

Now, TVBC has purchased credits from Roke Manor Ltd in relation to land at Roke Manor Farm meaning that applicants will be able to participate in the council’s scheme, and have these credits allocated to them, mitigating against nitrogen increases that their application would produce.

This in turn, will ensure future development is nitrate neutral in terms of its overall impact and developers of larger schemes have the option of purchasing credits directly from Roke Manor Ltd.

Portfolio holder for planning, councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “We’re really grateful for the joined up working of Roke Manor Ltd and Natural England in seeing this come to life.

"The past two years have been difficult in ensuring our planning process balances out any increase in nitrate levels in the Solent, which is something we need to achieve in order to protect the environment in delivering new homes to meeting our housing needs."

Allison Potts from Natural England, said: “We support the work Test Valley Borough Council has done to secure the credits from the Roke Manor site to protect the Solent from increases in nitrates.

"We are excited to see it develop into a wonderful place for wildlife and a great environmental asset for the borough and its residents.”