Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England
- Maps of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
- Methodology used to identify NVZs
- Appeals process against the designation of land as an NVZ
Maps of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
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.
A summary map of NVZs in England are available as an A4 size pdf.
- Summary map of NVZs in England (PDF, 320 KB)
More detailed, field-boundary maps are available via an external website hosted by ADAS.
Interactive maps, which have search and zoom facilities and allow you to access information on why an area was included in an NVZ, are available via the MAGIC website – 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 Regulations 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) was 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. 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.
Email: nitratesdirectiveteam@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Post: The Secretariat – NVZ Appeals Panel
Room 2A
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL
Page published: 27 May 2009