Stockton-on-Tees LPA BNG

Discover key habitats, BNG requirements, and planning guidance for developers in Stockton-on-Tees LPA Local Planning Authority.

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Biodiversity Net Gain in Stockton-on-Tees 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.

Stockton-on-Tees, located in North East England, is a unitary authority encompassing a mix of urban, rural, and industrial landscapes. Covering approximately 204 square kilometres, the borough is centred around the River Tees and includes major settlements such as Stockton, Billingham, Thornaby, Yarm, and Norton. These towns and villages are interspersed with green infrastructure, agricultural land, and a network of watercourses and nature reserves that define the borough’s ecological character.

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council supports the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in accordance with the Environment Act 2021. Developers are required to achieve a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value for most developments, which can be secured through habitat creation, enhancement, or delivery via approved off-site units.

The borough spans a key National Character Area (NCA), the Tees Lowlands. This NCA influences the borough’s typical habitats, including floodplain wetlands, lowland mixed deciduous woodlands, urban green spaces, and reclaimed brownfield sites with emerging successional habitats. Several of these habitats are recognised as priorities under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The varied land use and ecological features of Stockton-on-Tees present both opportunities and constraints for BNG delivery. Strategic ecological assessments, long-term management plans, and an understanding of habitat distinctiveness are essential for successful BNG integration within the planning process.

For developers, landowners, and planners working within Stockton-on-Tees, understanding the LPA’s diverse habitat network and local green infrastructure is critical to meeting BNG obligations. Our team provides support through BNG metric calculations, habitat baseline surveys, and access to verified local BNG units.

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

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Habitats in Stockton-on-Tees 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.

Stockton-on-Tees’s landscape is shaped by the Tees Lowlands and associated floodplains, which contribute a wide range of habitats relevant to BNG planning.

Grassland Habitats

Improved grassland is widespread across agricultural fields and urban fringes, offering low distinctiveness unless enhanced.

Neutral and marshy grassland can be found in wet lowland areas, particularly within nature reserves and floodplains.

Species-poor semi-improved grassland is present on reclaimed land and old pastures with limited floristic diversity.

Woodland and Forest Habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland occurs along river valleys and in ancient woodland fragments, supporting a variety of birds, bats, and invertebrates.

Wet woodland, typically dominated by willow and alder, is found in flood-prone zones such as Billingham Beck and the River Leven corridor.

Shrub and Scrub Habitats

Scrub and bracken mosaics are common on brownfield sites and post-industrial land, often forming transitional zones with grassland or woodland.

These areas support early-successional species and are valuable for invertebrates.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Tees, a defining feature of the borough, provides priority river habitats, supporting otters, salmon, and riparian plant species.

Reedbeds, wet grassland, and ponds occur in nature reserves like Bowesfield Marsh and Tees Heritage Park.

Drainage ditches and wet flushes contribute to small-scale habitat mosaics across the agricultural landscape.

Cropland Habitats

Arable farming is common throughout the borough, especially east of Billingham and near Yarm.

Opportunities exist for arable field margins, beetle banks, and cover crops to contribute to BNG.

Hedgerows and Linear Features

Species-poor hawthorn-dominated hedgerows are widespread but offer potential for enhancement through species diversification and buffer planting.

Urban green corridors, including railway lines and cycle routes, function as habitat links.

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Stockton-on-Tees 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 Stockton-on-Tees, high and very high distinctiveness habitats such as wet woodland, priority rivers, and reedbeds are particularly important to conserve and enhance. These habitats deliver the greatest biodiversity uplift, but their restoration or creation requires detailed ecological planning and monitoring.

Conversely, improving low to moderate distinctiveness habitats—such as improved grassland, arable farmland, or urban greenspace—offers cost-effective and practical opportunities for BNG compliance. Enhancements may include wildflower sowing, creation of wetland features, or hedgerow diversification. Opportunities also exist on brownfield sites and in green infrastructure networks, where multifunctional habitat creation can support both biodiversity and urban resilience goals.

Towns & Cities

Stockton-on-Tees

Thornaby-on-Tees

Billingham

Norton-on-Tees

Ingleby Barwick

Yarm

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