North Tyneside LPA BNG

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

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Biodiversity Net Gain in North Tyneside 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.

North Tyneside, located on the northeast coast of England, is a unitary authority that encompasses a mix of urban centres, suburban developments, coastal habitats, and green infrastructure. Covering approximately 84 square kilometres, the borough includes towns such as North Shields, Whitley Bay, Wallsend, and Killingworth, along with rural fringe areas and key natural corridors like the River Tyne and the coastline of the North Sea.

North Tyneside Council is committed to delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in accordance with the Environment Act 2021. Developers must demonstrate at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity value for applicable developments, secured through the creation or enhancement of habitats, either on-site or through recognised off-site units. The Council has integrated BNG within its wider planning and climate resilience strategies, recognising the potential for biodiversity to improve ecosystem function and urban quality of life.

The borough lies predominantly within the Tyne and Wear Lowlands National Character Area, with influences from the North Northumberland Coastal Plain to the north. These NCAs give rise to a variety of habitats, from coastal dunes and estuarine wetlands to urban greenspaces and reclaimed industrial land. Much of the borough's ecological value is concentrated along the River Tyne estuary, the Whitley Bay coastline, and the emerging green infrastructure network in its urban and semi-rural areas.

For successful BNG delivery, understanding the borough’s habitat diversity, landscape connectivity, and the opportunities for nature-based interventions is essential. Our team offers expert guidance on habitat surveys, metric assessments, and identification of appropriate offsetting schemes within the borough.

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

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Habitats in North Tyneside 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.

North Tyneside contains a range of habitats that reflect its coastal location, urban nature, and industrial legacy.

Coastal and Estuarine Habitats

The North Tyneside coast features sand dunes, maritime cliffs, and rocky shores, with sites such as Tynemouth and St Mary’s Island supporting nesting seabirds and dune flora.

Estuarine mudflats and saltmarsh occur along the River Tyne’s tidal reaches, providing habitat for waders and migratory birds.

Coastal grasslands on cliff tops and dune systems support wildflowers and pollinators.

Grassland Habitats

Improved grasslands are common across the borough’s parks, sports fields, and school grounds, generally of low biodiversity value unless diversified.

Semi-improved and species-rich grasslands can be found in areas of public open space, including Rising Sun Country Park.

Urban meadows are increasingly promoted through wildflower seeding in verges and community greenspaces.

Woodland and Scrub Habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland is present in valley corridors, parklands, and the borough’s rural edges.

Scrub and bracken mosaics occur on disturbed ground and within the urban fringe, often supporting birds and invertebrates.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Tyne, with its tidal reach through North Shields and Wallsend, provides priority river habitat, supporting otters, fish, and wetland birds.

Lakes, ponds, and reedbeds are present in parks and restored industrial areas such as Silverlink Biodiversity Park and Killingworth Lake.

Ditches and seasonal wetlands occur in rural margins and open space developments.

Cropland and Brownfield Habitats

While large-scale agriculture is limited, arable fields and pastureland exist along the borough's fringes, supporting field margins and hedgerows.

Brownfield sites, including disused railways and industrial land, support open mosaic habitats and ruderal vegetation.

Hedgerows and Linear Features

Urban hedgerows, tree lines, and native planting strips contribute to connectivity across the borough.

Disused rail lines, such as the Waggonways, now function as green corridors linking fragmented habitats.

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North Tyneside 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.

In North Tyneside, high and very high distinctiveness habitats such as coastal sand dunes, saltmarsh, and priority river and estuarine habitats are especially important to protect and enhance under the BNG framework. Restoration of these habitats provides significant biodiversity uplift but requires careful planning due to environmental sensitivities and coastal constraints.

BNG delivery is also achievable through enhancement of low distinctiveness habitats like amenity grassland, urban greenspace, and arable field margins. Wildflower planting, wetland creation, native hedgerow establishment, and pond construction are practical interventions that can deliver measurable net gains. Additionally, opportunities exist to retrofit biodiversity features into built-up areas, including green roofs, rain gardens, and pollinator strips.

Towns & Cities

Wallsend

Whitley Bay

Tynemouth

North Shields

Cullercoats

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