Decision details

Wiltshire Council forms part of the Solent protected sites catchment– due to part of the authority falling within the River Test catchment. The Council has it’s own strategic project through Roundbarrow Nature Reserve and this has ensured that development in Wiltshire has a strategic mitigation project that can be used to counterbalance mitigation requirements and ensure development can be nutrient neutral. This has enabled planning applications for overnight accommodation to proceed in this part of Wiltshire. 

Wiltshire Council has previously had a silent partner role with respect to the wider work being progressed by the Solent authorities but is becoming more involved as the Partnership for South Hampshire has been awarded a grant in the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund Round 2. We intend to sell surplus nutrient credits from Roundbarrow Nature Reserve to other local planning authorities in the River Test catchment, and this inter-authority agreement will allow the Council to sell to development in other local planning authorities without the need for multiple separate legal agreements with each local authority. There is also an opportunity for land purchase in this catchment that is being explored and could benefit from a financial contribution to purchase via the Partnership for South Hampshire’s Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund Round 2 grant.

The purpose of this report is to

              i.        AGREE that the Corporate Director of Place is delegated to sign the proposed Inter-Authority Agreement, including any minor amendments, in consultation with the Council’s S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning. 

             ii.        AGREE thatthe Corporate Director of Place is delegated to agree the Council as a Benefiting Authority for projects delivered through the Inter-Authority Agreement in consultation with the Council’s S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning. 

Following consultation with officers I give notice that I intend to make the decision set out in the attached report. If you would like to make any representations to me on this issue please do so by 20 November 2024.

To allow the Council:

·         To sell surplus nitrogen credits from the Roundbarrow Nature Reserve Strategic Mitigation scheme to development in local authorities part of the Partnership of South Hampshire

·         To further consider the purchase of land that may benefit from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund Round 2 grant awarded to the Partnership of South Hampshire and meet wider environmental and community benefits.

Early discussions with separate local planning authorities to progress separate section 106 and section 33 agreements have been progressed, but this alternative Inter-Authority Agreement presents an alternative streamlined option for Wiltshire Council. 

The Inter-Authority Agreement has been reviewed and approved by the legal team and discussed between officers at Wiltshire Council and the Partnership of South Hampshire.