Tees Nutrient Mitigation Scheme

The Newsham Beck Nutrient Mitigation Scheme offers a powerful, landscape-based solution for developers navigating nitrogen neutrality requirements in the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast catchment. Created by Greenshank Environmental in partnership with GR Herbert & Sons, the scheme transforms an intensively managed stretch of Newsham Beck into a nature-positive asset that restores ecological function while unlocking new residential development.

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At the heart of the scheme is a reimagined watercourse: a carefully engineered, two-stage channel that mimics natural stream dynamics. Vegetated floodplain benches and low-grade weirs will slow flows, promote nutrient retention, and foster microbial and plant-driven nitrogen cycling. Together, these features will remove a significant portion of nitrogen from the catchment nutrient pollution that would otherwise jeopardise the health of protected coastal habitats.

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This design adheres to the Enhanced Drainage Ditch Management Framework, a method co-developed by Greenshank for Natural England. It ensures reliable, evidence-backed reductions in agricultural nitrogen runoff, all within a compact 0.8-hectare footprint on low-value, waterlogged land.

Beyond its mitigation value, the scheme delivers substantial co-benefits:

• Flood resilience, by enhancing water storage and slowing runoff
• Habitat creation, boosting biodiversity across plants, insects, and aquatic life
• Carbon capture, through native planting and restored soils
• Water security, by supporting low flows in drought conditions

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The scheme is legally secured for 80+ years, with an adaptive management and monitoring plan to safeguard its long-term effectiveness.