Gateshead LPA BNG

Discover key habitats, BNG requirements, and planning guidance for developers in Gateshead LPA Local Planning Authority.

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Biodiversity Net Gain in Gateshead LPA Local Planning Authority

West Berkshire, located in South East England, is a predominantly rural Local Planning Authority (LPA) known for its diverse natural environment and rich ecological heritage. Covering an area of approximately 704 square kilometres, the district includes a range of urban centres and rural settlements, with Newbury serving as the principal town. Other significant towns and villages within the LPA include Thatcham, Hungerford, Pangbourne, and Theale, each contributing to the area's distinctive landscape character and biodiversity value.

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, West Berkshire Council actively supports the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. Developers working within the LPA are required to deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value for most developments, secured through habitat creation, enhancement, or approved off-site units.

West Berkshire encompasses several National Character Areas (NCAs), notably the North Wessex Downs and Thames Basin Heaths, each influencing the typical habitat types found in the region. These include ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, river valleys, lowland mixed deciduous woodlands, and floodplain meadows—many of which are priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This ecological diversity presents both opportunities and constraints for BNG delivery, requiring careful ecological assessment and strategic planning.

For developers, landowners, and planners operating within West Berkshire, understanding the LPA’s landscape, habitat distribution, and regional policy context is critical to meeting BNG obligations. Our team provides tailored support through BNG assessments, habitat mapping, and access to verified local BNG units and schemes.

To learn more about BNG opportunities in this area, contact us or register to be notified when local schemes become available.

Gateshead, located in North East England, is a unitary authority that spans urban centres, upland valley landscapes, and rural fringe areas. Covering approximately 143 square kilometres, the borough includes the principal town of Gateshead, alongside Birtley, Blaydon, Felling, and a network of smaller villages. Much of the borough is defined by the River Tyne to the north and the wooded valleys of the Derwent and Team rivers to the south and west.

Gateshead Council actively supports the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. Under this legislation, developers are required to deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value for most developments, which may be achieved through habitat creation, enhancement, or via off-site biodiversity units. The council’s commitment to landscape-scale ecological improvement aligns BNG with its wider strategies for climate adaptation and green infrastructure.

Gateshead’s varied natural landscape is shaped by several National Character Areas (NCAs), including the Tyne and Wear Lowlands and the Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe. These NCAs support a range of habitats from wooded river corridors and pastureland to heathland and former coalfield sites. Ecological networks such as the Derwent Valley and the Team Valley provide important wildlife corridors and contain many priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

This ecological diversity presents both challenges and opportunities for delivering BNG. Developers and landowners must consider habitat distinctiveness, connectivity, and long-term management. Our team offers tailored support including BNG metric assessments, habitat surveys, and access to local offset and enhancement schemes.

To learn more about BNG opportunities in Gateshead, contact us or sign up to receive updates on local biodiversity units.

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Habitats in Gateshead LPA Local Planning Authority

West Berkshire’s landscape is shaped predominantly by the North Wessex Downs National Character Area (NCA 116), a chalk downland landscape of international ecological importance, and partly by the Thames Basin Heaths (NCA 129). These NCAs support a rich mosaic of habitats, many of which are priority habitats under BNG classifications and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Grassland Habitats
Lowland calcareous grassland dominates the chalk ridge areas, supporting diverse plant species like orchids and wild thyme.
Lowland meadows are scattered along the Kennet Valley and floodplain, offering high biodiversity value, particularly for invertebrates and ground-nesting birds.
Areas of modified grassland are common in improved pastures and paddocks, but these hold lower BNG value unless enhanced.
In some acidic soils, lowland dry acid grassland and other lowland acid grassland can be found, especially on sandy substrates and heathland edges.

Woodland and Forest Habitats
The LPA contains extensive lowland mixed deciduous woodland, particularly on the clay-with-flints plateau and valley slopes, providing habitat for bats, dormice, and woodland birds.
Veteran trees and old estates feature wood-pasture and parkland, a rare and highly valued BNG habitat.
Areas of wet woodland, often associated with river valleys, add to the ecological complexity.

Heathland and Shrub
On the fringes of the Thames Basin Heaths, lowland heathland and mixed scrub are present, though often fragmented, supporting heathland birds like nightjar and Dartford warbler.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats
The River Kennet, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), provides priority river habitats and supports adjacent floodplain wetland mosaics.
Smaller ponds, reedbeds, and ditches are scattered across the landscape, particularly in floodplain areas.

Cropland Habitats
Much of West Berkshire’s agricultural land is under cereal crops or temporary grass and clover leys, but there is increasing scope to integrate arable field margins for biodiversity gain.

Hedgerows and Linear Features
The rural landscape is strongly characterised by native species-rich hedgerows, often associated with ditches and banks, which function as critical wildlife corridors under BNG classification.

Gateshead’s diverse landscape includes a patchwork of semi-natural habitats shaped by its valley systems, historical land use, and post-industrial legacy.

Grassland Habitats

Improved grassland is widespread in agricultural areas and parkland, generally of low distinctiveness unless enhanced.

Lowland acid grassland is found on heath and moorland fringe, particularly in the upland western areas and former colliery land.

Neutral and marshy grasslands occur along river valleys, with notable areas in the Derwent Valley.

Woodland and Forest Habitats

Extensive lowland mixed deciduous woodland exists throughout the Derwent Walk Country Park, Chopwell Woodland Park, and ancient woodland sites.

Wet woodland, including alder and willow stands, is frequently found along watercourses such as the River Derwent and River Team.

Veteran trees, wood-pasture, and historic parkland add to the borough’s woodland value.

Heathland and Scrub

Lowland heath and bracken-dominated scrub areas are found on the moorland fringe and restored former mining areas.

These habitats support reptiles, ground-nesting birds, and invertebrates.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Tyne, Derwent, and Team provide priority river habitats with riparian zones supporting otters, kingfishers, and fish species.

Ponds, marshes, and reedbeds are present in flood-prone areas and nature reserves such as Shibdon Pond.

Cropland Habitats

Arable land is interspersed across the borough, particularly to the south, offering scope for arable margins, wild bird seed mixes, and buffer strips.

Hedgerows and Linear Features

Species-poor hedgerows dominate agricultural boundaries, often in need of restoration.

Linear infrastructure routes, including cycleways and disused railways, act as important wildlife corridors when enhanced with native planting.

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Gateshead LPA BNG Planning

For BNG delivery in West Berkshire, high and very high distinctiveness habitats such as lowland calcareous grassland, lowland meadows, wood-pasture, and priority rivers are particularly important to protect and enhance. Restoration or creation of such habitats provides the highest biodiversity uplift but also carries stricter requirements under the BNG metric.

Conversely, improving lower distinctiveness habitats, such as modified grassland or cropland through buffer planting, hedgerow enhancement, or field margin creation, offers practical options for on-site or local BNG contributions.

For BNG delivery in Gateshead, high and very high distinctiveness habitats such as lowland acid grassland, wet woodland, and priority rivers should be prioritised for protection and enhancement. These habitats provide strong biodiversity uplift but often require careful planning and longer-term management to be successful.

In urban and fringe areas, BNG opportunities are achievable through the enhancement of improved grasslands, scrub mosaics, and urban greenspaces. Creating species-rich grasslands, woodland edges, or wetland features on underutilised or post-industrial land is often effective and supported by the council’s green infrastructure strategy. Additionally, projects that improve habitat connectivity via hedgerows, green corridors, or urban trees are particularly valuable in fragmented areas.

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Gateshead

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