Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England

From 1 January 2009, the areas covered by Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) were increased to approximately 70 per cent of England. This includes the 55 per cent originally designated in 2002.

How do I find out if I'm in a NVZ?

See the regional maps of NVZs - These maps are hosted by ADAS.

An interactive map is also available which has a search and zoom facility and allows you to access information on why an area was included in an NVZ - it is recommended that you read the guidance on using the MAGIC website first.

Methodology used to identify NVZs

The methodology used to identify NVZs in England builds upon the designation criteria established in the Nitrates Directive. It was developed by the Environment Agency, and the development was advised by a Defra Steering Group external to the Environment Agency which included Government officials, industry stakeholders and academic experts.

It has been peer reviewed by independent academics who are leaders in the field of surface and groundwater management. The methodology was then applied by the Environment Agency, in close consultation with Defra, to identify NVZs in England.

Appeals against the designation of land as an NVZ

The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations (2008) provide for appeals to be made against the Secretary of State's decision to designate certain areas of England as NVZs if there is evidence to demonstrate that:

  • the land does not drain into water identified as nitrate-polluted, and/or
  • the water to which the land drains should not have been identified as polluted.

The function of determining appeals has been delegated to an independent Appeals Panel that will make its decision based on the evidence submitted.

Practical guidance on the appeals process was published in December 2008.

The closing date for submitting an appeal was 31 January 2009. Over 700 appeals were submitted by this deadline.

The independent Appeals Panel took the decision to accept supporting evidence to an appeal (for example monitoring data or a hydrogeological report) up to 10th March 2009 provided that an appeals application form (NVZ - AA1) had been completed in all other particulars and submitted by the original deadline of 31 January 2009.

The Appeals Panel is currently considering the evidence submitted to it and will make a decision in relation to each appeal in due course. It is expected that all appeals will be decided by end December 2009.  If you have a query relating to your appeal, or on the appeals process, you can contact the Secretariat for the NVZ Appeals Panel using the contact details below.

The appeals panel’s secretariat will write to each appellant once a decision has been made.  Details of the decisions made so far are listed in the table below. This table will be updated regularly. If you would like to request a full copy of an individual decision, please contact the appeals panel’s secretariat (contact details below) quoting the Appeal Number.

Where an appeal has been successful, the land affected by the decision is no longer considered to be designated within an NVZ.  The maps of the NVZs will be updated in early 2010, once all appeals have been completed. Where an appeal has been unsuccessful, the land remains in the NVZ and the owner / occupier will need to make arrangements to comply with the 2008 Regulations.  Guidance to farmers in NVZs is available.

If, in the course of making their decisions, the Appeals Panel finds that any body of water should not have been identified as being polluted, any holding draining into that body of water is no longer considered to be within an NVZ.  Further details of any areas affected will be published once all appeals have been considered.

Contact us

Email:  nitratesdirectiveteam@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The Secretariat – NVZ Appeals Panel
Room 2A
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AL

Page published: 17 November 2009

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