River Camel Nutrient Neutrality Update 2026: Bodmin Removed

In February 2026, Natural England updated the nutrient neutrality rules for the River Camel, which has had a profound change to the boundary allocated to affected areas.

In a letter to Cornwall Council, Natural England confirm that they are ‘updating catchment boundaries for the River Camel SAC, reducing the area of the catchment’

Natural England confirm that this shift in catchment area is due their assessments, ‘the planned development assessed connecting to 4 WwTWs and new private discharges will not trigger the need for nutrient neutrality’

Of huge importance to housing delivery, Bodmin has now been excluded from the catchment area affected and therefore no longer has a moratorium on development that increases phosphates. The change is considered to unlock significant amounts of development that were otherwise waiting for strategic mitigation or that hasn’t even been submitted.

If you have land within the Parishes/areas of Blisland, Bodmin Nanstallon, Bodmin Scarletts Well and St Breward, your development could now be unlocked, with this significant barrier now removed.

Get in touch with Laurence Associates to review your site and understand what this update means for you. Our planning team can assess your position quickly and advise on the most effective route to unlocking your project.

Truro: 01872 225 259
Exeter: 01392 979 135
hello@laurenceassociates.co.uk