Award

Bulk Sales Agreement - Phosphorus and Nitrogen Mitigation

NORFOLK ENVIRONMENTAL CREDITS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

13 Feb 2026 at 17:24

Award

20 Jan 2026 at 14:28

Award

20 Nov 2025 at 14:53

Award

19 Nov 2025 at 14:21

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process under review involves Norfolk Environmental Credits Limited, situated in Norwich, United Kingdom, collaborating with Natural England, based in York. The process culminates in a Bulk Sales Agreement for phosphorus and nitrogen mitigation, aimed at addressing nutrient pollution from new residential developments. This contract, valued at £5 million with a gross amount of £6 million, spans from 22nd December 2025 to 22nd December 2027, reflecting an active status. It leverages a direct award method, primarily due to technical reasons, with Natural England as the sole supplier capable of offering the required permanent nutrient credits, which are necessary for meeting legal standards in specific geographic locations. The industry's focus is environmental management, particularly affecting regions UKH15, UKH16, and UKH17, with the aim of supporting long-term environmental infrastructure improvements alongside nutrient credit provision.

This tender offers considerable opportunities for businesses specializing in environmental management and infrastructure development. Firms within the environmental consultancy sector or those involved in conservation work could significantly benefit from engaging in processes similar to those outlined in this contract. The requirement for nutrient mitigation denotes a rising demand for expertise in sustainable environmental solutions, making it particularly appealing to businesses that can provide innovative methods for nutrient offset, nature recovery, or those seeking long-term commitments in ecological projects. Furthermore, companies experienced in collaborating with public bodies on large-scale projects could leverage their skills to develop similar initiatives, paving the way for substantial business growth within the realm of environmental services.

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Notice Title

Bulk Sales Agreement - Phosphorus and Nitrogen Mitigation

Notice Description

This UK7 Contract Details Notice has been republished to allow the signed contract to be attached. The information as contained in the notice published on 20 January 2026, 2:28pm is unchanged. Norfolk Environmental Credits Limited generate, establish and sells nutrient mitigation credits to offset nutrient pollution generated by new residential developments. The services covered in this notice relate to the purchase of permanent nutrient credits to offset the effects of nutrients from new development. The contract covers: Permanent Phosphorus mitigation (approx. 111 kg/yr) Permanent Nitrogen mitigation (approx. 2324 kg/yr)

Procurement Information

Norfolk Environmental Credits Limited ('the Purchaser') is a collaboration between Breckland Council, Broadland District Council, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council and South Norfolk Council. Natural England ('NE'), a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs ('DEFRA'), has established a scheme for the production of nutrient credits and operate an environment project that provides an opportunity to offset increased phosphate and nitrogen loading. NE has secured nutrient credits in Foxley Wood, and Bawdeswell with a further option at Wood Norton (together 'the Mitigation Land'). The nutrient credits in Foxley Wood and Wood Norton are being secured by way of a Section 7 Agreement pursuant to the Natural Environmental and Rural Communities Act 2006 (the 'Section 7 Agreement') and the nutrient credits in Bawdeswell were secured by way of a conservation covenant pursuant to Part 7 of the Environment Act 2021 (the 'Conservation Covenant'). As a consequence of NE's Section 7 Agreement and the Conservation Covenant, NE and the Purchaser will enter into a Bulk Sale Agreement for the sale and purchase of nutrient credits generated from the Mitigation Land ('the Services'). The nutrients generated will be used to offset the effect of nutrients from new developments in the catchment areas of the Broads (Yare) and lower Wensum. The steps required for the generation of the nutrient credits at the Mitigation Land will also lead to wider improvements to the environmental infrastructure, including nature recovery and public access to the Mitigation Land. After due consideration by the Purchaser, NE is the only supplier that (i) can offer permanent credits on a 'sale or return' basis to the Purchaser, (ii) can provide for wider improvements to the environmental infrastructure and (iii) has demonstrated it can provide a tradeable nutrient benefit within an appropriate required timescale, with the required ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen, in a specific geographical area as required by the legal planning framework. In addition to addressing the legitimate and proportionate requirements of the Purchaser to secure permanent credits generated by land reversions, the mitigation secured at Foxley Wood and Wood Norton will be active for the longer period of 125 years, as required by large volume house builders who are phasing new development over a longer period of time. The Purchaser in seeking to secure the nutrient mitigation in the specific geographical area covered by the Bulk Sale Agreement. Accordingly the Purchaser has decided to make a direct award to NE pursuant to Paragraph 6, Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, in that the Purchaser has determined accordingly that a) competition for the Services is absent for technical reasons and b) there is no reasonable alternative supplier as only NE can supply the services to the required legal standard and within the required timescales and provide for environmental infrastructure improvements.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e482
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013637-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

90710000 - Environmental management

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
22 Dec 2025 - 22 Dec 2027 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORFOLK ENVIRONMENTAL CREDITS LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
admin@norfolkenvironmentalcredits.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR7 0WF
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Broadland
Electoral Ward
Brundall
Westminster Constituency
Broadland and Fakenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NATURAL ENGLAND

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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