Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain Legislation
Find out how biodiversity net gain legislation works under the Environment Act 2021, what it requires, and which developments are exempt.
Our Tees scheme will be launching soon, we can also achieve full Nutrient Neutrality in more than 90% of developments via our onsite soltuions.

Areas within the River Tees catchment are affected by Nutrient Neutrality due to excess nitrogen levels in the Tees mouth and Cleveland Coast designated site. This region includes the following Local Planning Authorities (LPAs):
Eden LPA
County Durham LPA
Darlington LPA
Richmondshire LPA
Hambleton LPA
Redcar and Cleveland LPA
Stockton-on-Tees LPA
Hartlepool LPA
Middlesbrough LPA
North York Moors National Park LPA
The affected areas in the Tees catchment cover a number of larger towns and cities, including Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar, Stockton-on-Tees and Barnard Castle. A detailed map of the area is shown below, and we also have mapped all the areas in England and Wales impacted by Nutrient Neutrality.


If you need nutrient mitigation in the Tees, get in touch to buy credits and discuss onsite mitigation

Mitigation is being priced on a per kilogram basis. The Natural England scheme has set the price at £1,850/kg, but we expect this to rise due to limited supply.
The area has no current nutrient stripping technology at wastewater treatment works.
New houses currently require between 1-2.4 kg of nitrogen per house. The variation is driven by differences in the occupancy rates used in different LPAs. This creates significant opportunities for landowners looking at mitigation schemes.
We forecast demand outstripping supply for at least the next 2 years, despite new schemes coming online (see below). We would characterise the mitigation market in the catchment as weak due to limited supply of nitrogen credits.

There are approximately 34 wastewater treatment works in the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Nutrient Neutrality area. None of these works are scheduled for an upgrade over the current upgrade cycle (AMP7), running to 2025.
In order to meet the upgrade requirements brought in under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, referred to as the ‘TAL upgrades’, 12 treatment works will be upgraded to have nitrogen removal technologies by 2030. This means 22 treatment works will remain above the most stringent nitrogen removal requirements.
Developments connecting to these treatment works will need more mitigation than those connecting to the 12 treatment works getting TAL upgrades.
As per our research into water treatment upgrades, we do not believe that it is likely that the water companies will be able to deliver all the upgrades in this cycle and it is possible that Northumbrian Water will be left to make up a shortfall in mitigation requirements if they miss the upgrade deadline.

Restoring ecosystems and creating sustainable habitats
through BNG and nutrient mitigation.
We have 3 schemes covering the full catchment. Get in touch to discuss.
Yes, we always give you the option for both credits and on-site mitigaion within our propsoal. Our combined offering is typically less expensive than just credits.
All our schemes are secured for the full 'in perpetuity perriod via a Section 106 Agreement with the LPA.
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Find out how biodiversity net gain legislation works under the Environment Act 2021, what it requires, and which developments are exempt.

Find out how nutrient mitigation schemes work for landowners, how nutrient credits are generated, and how to combine nutrient and BNG income.

Find out what nutrient neutrality is, which catchments are affected, and how to secure nutrient credits for planning permission.