Natural England is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, responsible for ensuring that England’s natural environment — including land, freshwater, and marine environments — is conserved, enhanced, and managed for present and future generations.

In the context of development and planning, Natural England’s most significant roles include:

Nutrient neutrality: Issuing guidance on nutrient neutrality requirements for development within the catchments of designated habitats (SACs, SPAs, and Ramsar sites) affected by excess nutrients. This has become a major constraint on housebuilding in affected catchments.
Biodiversity net gain: Advising on the mandatory requirement (under the Environment Act 2021) for development to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain.
Protected sites: Designating and managing Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves, and advising on internationally designated Natura 2000 sites.
Environmental Impact Assessment: Acting as a statutory consultee for EIA screening and scoping opinions.
Habitats Regulations Assessment: Advising local planning authorities on Appropriate Assessments for development likely to affect European protected sites.

For developments in nutrient-sensitive catchments, Natural England’s guidance effectively requires applicants to demonstrate that the proposal will achieve nutrient neutrality — meaning no net increase in nutrient loading to the affected waterbody. This can be achieved through on-site mitigation, off-site credit schemes, or a combination of both.

Aegaea provides nutrient neutrality assessments in affected catchments, working within Natural England’s published methodology.