South Tyneside LPA BNG

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

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Biodiversity Net Gain in South 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.

South Tyneside, located in North East England, is a coastal unitary authority comprising urban centres, coastal cliffs, estuarine habitats, and urban green spaces. Covering approximately 65 square kilometres, the borough includes South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn, and a number of smaller villages. Bounded by the North Sea to the east and the River Tyne to the north, South Tyneside's landscape is defined by its dramatic coastal features, river valleys, and urban-industrial legacy.

South Tyneside Council fully supports the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. Developments within the borough are required to deliver at least a 10% net increase in biodiversity value, achieved through the creation, restoration, or enhancement of habitats either on-site or via approved off-site units. BNG is embedded in the borough’s local plan objectives, supporting sustainable development and ecological resilience across both urban and natural environments.

The borough sits within the Tyne and Wear Lowlands National Character Area and overlaps with coastal influences from the North Northumberland Coastal Plain. These character areas shape a diverse ecological network that includes coastal cliffs, grasslands, estuarine mudflats, lowland woodland, and managed urban greenspace. Many of South Tyneside’s habitats are designated as priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and are protected through local policies and designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Local Wildlife Sites.

BNG opportunities in South Tyneside are varied, from improving habitat corridors in urban centres to restoring coastal and estuarine features. Our team offers expert support in habitat mapping, biodiversity metric calculations, and identifying viable habitat creation or offset schemes within the borough.

To learn more about BNG opportunities in South Tyneside, contact us or sign up for notifications about emerging local biodiversity schemes.

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Habitats in South 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.

South Tyneside supports a range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats influenced by its coastal position and urban development pattern.

Coastal and Estuarine Habitats

The coastline includes maritime cliffs, rocky shores, and sand dunes, supporting specialised flora and nesting seabirds.

Estuarine habitats along the River Tyne, including saltmarsh and mudflats, are of high conservation value and support migratory bird species.

Coastal grasslands, particularly near Marsden Bay, provide important transitional habitats.

Grassland Habitats

Improved and semi-improved grasslands dominate parks and urban greenspaces, with increasing effort to convert to species-rich meadows.

Neutral and acid grasslands can be found in the borough's southern rural margins and restored areas.

Woodland and Scrub Habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland occurs in areas such as Cleadon Hills and the Boldon Flats corridor.

Urban woodlands are scattered along disused railway lines, parks, and river corridors.

Scrub and bracken mosaics are found on disturbed sites and coastal slopes.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Tyne estuary is a key biodiversity corridor, supporting priority river habitats with riparian and brackish species.

Reedbeds, ponds, and seasonal wetlands are present in restored landscapes like West Boldon and Temple Park.

Urban drainage networks provide scope for wetland enhancement and SuDS integration.

Brownfield and Post-Industrial Land

Disused industrial land supports open mosaic habitats, offering early successional vegetation and bare ground—high value for BNG invertebrate metrics.

Many sites show natural regeneration with potential for structured habitat creation.

Hedgerows and Linear Features

Species-poor hedgerows are found mainly in rural fringe areas and road margins.

Linear greenspaces, such as former railways and cycleways, provide vital wildlife corridors linking fragmented habitats.

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South 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 South Tyneside, high distinctiveness habitats such as maritime cliffs, saltmarsh, sand dunes, and estuarine wetlands must be prioritised for conservation and enhancement under BNG. These habitats offer significant uplift potential but are sensitive to disturbance and require specialist design approaches.

In more urbanised and modified landscapes, BNG can be delivered through enhancement of amenity grasslands, scrub, and urban wetland features. This includes the conversion of open space to species-rich meadow, creation of ponds, native hedgerow planting, and improvement of brownfield sites. There are also growing opportunities to integrate green infrastructure (e.g. rain gardens, swales, green roofs) to provide biodiversity uplift within urban development schemes.

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South Shields

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