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Mike Burke

Mike Burke is Programme Director – Sustainable Development

Tools and information to support the delivery of nutrient mitigation published

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Nature-based solutions, Nutrient Neutrality
An example of riparian buffer strips on a watercourse at Thorne Moors, Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve, South Yorkshire

We are pleased to share a couple of products published to support the delivery of nutrient mitigation schemes across the country. These include our improved Nutrient Neutrality Budget Calculators and a page of technical Information on Nature-Based Solutions as Nutrient …

Biodiversity net gain: where to start

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an ambitious government strategy to make sure that habitat for wildlife is in a better state than it was before development. We are delighted to celebrate Defra's confirmation that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for major …

Natural England welcomes Government's commitment to Nutrient Mitigation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Environment Act, Nature-based solutions, Nutrient Neutrality
A river flowing through the countryside

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enabling sustainable development by investing in schemes to reduce nutrient pollution in England’s rivers and estuaries. Read more on GOV.UK. Natural England welcomes the announcement which provides the certainty needed for all providers …

Natural England to publish updated nutrient budget calculators, and Tees Round 4 rescheduled

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Development, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, Nutrient Neutrality
Image shows a view of the Tees, looking out across the water. There is a grassy bank in the foreground, and buildings and machinery in the distance.

Image: Natural England The government passed the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill into law on 26th October 2023, making it the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act. This creates a legal requirement for certain wastewater treatment works designated by the Defra Secretary of …

Nutrient mitigation scheme continues to unlock new homes and protect our waterways.

Photo of Seal Sands which is part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and RAMSAR site

By Mike Burke, Director of Sustainable Development, Natural England. Government confirmed recently that the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme is still open for business. We hope this is welcome news for developers and Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) as it will provide the …

Preparing the market for statutory biodiversity credits

A view overlooking Iford Biodiversity Project, one of the statutory biodiversity credit pilots

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a government strategy to develop land and contribute to the recovery of nature. As set out in part six of the Environment Act 2021, it is a way of making sure the habitat for wildlife …

Natural England’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme, devised to protect our waterways from pollution and enable home building, has now launched

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Protected sites and species, Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site at Mordon where new wetlands likely to be created

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development Nutrient pollution is an urgent problem for freshwater habitats and estuaries which provide a vital home to many species including wetland birds, fish, and insects. Increased levels of nutrients such as nitrogen …

Measuring biodiversity net gain - Publication of Biodiversity Metric 4.0

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity
A river at sunset with plants in the foreground, trees lining the river banks and a metal bridge in the distance

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development Hot on the heels of the recent policy updates and associated guidance from Defra last week, we're pleased to share the publication of the biodiversity metric 4.0, another important milestone for biodiversity net …

What landowners can do now to gear up for the biodiversity net gain market

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity
Looking NE from Slough Top, near Taddington in the Derbyshire Peak District.

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development If you’re a landowner, biodiversity net gain might be a new concept or a familiar one you’ve read about. It’s both an opportunity to move towards nature positive outcomes and contribute to …