Conservation Covenant and how it works

Fastest way to secure nutrient credits

A Conservation Covenant agreement is a private, voluntary agreement to secure environmental and/or heritage benefit on a specific land parcel. The agreement must be between the landowner and a Responsible Body, which can be a local authority, public body, charity or a private sector organisation. The covenant must be for the public good and have a conservation purpose.

Through Conservation Covenants the National Rivers Consortium is able to legally secure Septic Tank Upgrades in perpetuity across England for the purposes of generating nutrient credits. We have partnered with RSK Biocensus, part of the RSK Group, a market-leading ecological consultancy based throughout the UK, to deliver Septic Tank Upgrades secured by Conservation Covenants nationwide.

The benefits of Conservation Covenants are that they offer a dynamic and more expeditious method of securing nutrient credits. The process relies on a standardised legal agreement which only requires the signature of the homeowner and Responsible Body. This allows for Septic Tank Upgrades to take place without needing either legal agreements with the local authority or needing cross-authority legal agreements with complex enforcement regimes.

Streamlined process

1. Search for the availability of existing credits using the catchment map (click button below)

2. The base cost of our Phosphorus and Nitrogen Credits and the availability of any credits in stock will be shown for each and every watershed in England.

3. Register to purchase existing credits in stock or register your interest in purchasing future stock at this point. Provide all the necessary information, NNAMS, Development Plans, etc. We will contact you directly at this point to confirm requirements.

4. Chose your preferred payment option whilst planning approval progresses
Option A: Full credit purchase upfront
Option B: Purchase agreement with deposit and phased payment
Option C: Credit rental agreement to secure credits and assist in planning approval
Option D: Bespoke agreement for phased development

5. Once planning approval is granted, the mitigation commences and credits are purchased. (Payment plans are available for larger schemes).

Expert guidance

Most nutrient budgets are significantly overestimated. We can review your assessment to ensure that you are not paying a penny more than you need to.

In areas where there are currently insufficient nutrient credits for your requirements, we can increase the credits in stock within 3–5 months or often sooner depending on the number of eligible donor septic tanks.