Recommendation 22

The Government should revise the impact assessment for the NRF, to take account of a variety of environmental issues, not only nutrient neutrality. It should consider the impact, role and budget of local authorities during the revision process. Only once a fully comprehensive impact assessment of the environmental aspect of the NRF has been completed can informed decisions about the efficacy of the NRF be made. The Government and Natural England must be clearer as to how approaches to the NRF will differ depending upon the environmental issue at hand. If this is not possible, then the NRF should only be applied to nutrient pollution, as we cannot be sure of the impact it will have on the environment otherwise. (Recommendation, Paragraph 90)