Biodiversity Duty Report

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Biodiversity duty

Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) (2006) placed a requirement on every public authority to, in exercising its functions, have regard to the purpose of conserving biodiversity. This is the 'Biodiversity Duty'.

The Environment Act (2021) strengthened the Biodiversity Duty by amending the NERC Act to require all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

The strengthened Biodiversity Duty means that a public authority must:

1. Consider what you can to conserve and enhance biodiversity
2. Agree policies and specific objectives based on your consideration
3. Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives

Local authorities must review these actions, policies, and objectives at least every five years and publish a biodiversity report setting out how the duty is being met.

Purpose of the report

The purpose of this report is to explain how Gateshead Council is meeting its enhanced biodiversity duty. It provides:

• a summary of the actions taken to comply with the biodiversity duty
• the policies and objectives agreed to conserve and enhance biodiversity
• plans for how the Council will continue to meet the duty in the next reporting period
• actions taken to meet biodiversity net gain obligations; and
• an assessment of expected biodiversity net gains arising from approved biodiversity gain plans, alongside future plans to meet these requirements

The reporting period covered by this document is 1 January 2024 to 1 January 2026.

Biodiversity in Gateshead

Biodiversity is the range of living organisms and habitats within an area, and the relationships between them, which together support environmental health, resilience and human wellbeing.

In Gateshead, biodiversity underpins the health and resilience of the borough's natural environment and provides essential ecosystem services such as clean air and water, healthy soils, pollination, climate regulation, and natural flood management.

Despite its urban and post‑industrial character, Gateshead supports a diverse and strategically important natural environment that forms part of the wider South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery Strategy area. Key assets include the River Tyne and its tributaries, woodland networks, wetlands, grasslands, coastal and estuarine habitats, as well as parks, gardens and other urban green spaces. Collectively, these habitats support a wide range of species and provide important opportunities to restore, enhance and better connect nature across the borough. (Gateshead Council, 2026a)

These natural assets play a vital role in supporting residents' physical and mental wellbeing, strengthening community resilience, and enhancing Gateshead's sense of place.

The conservation and enhancement of biodiversity is central to Thrive: our strategic approach, which sets out Gateshead Council's long-term vision to improve lives, reduce inequality and build resilient, sustainable communities. A healthy natural environment is fundamental to this vision, supporting inclusive economic growth, improving physical and mental health outcomes, and strengthening community resilience.

Biodiversity also plays a critical role in addressing climate change. Gateshead's Climate Change Strategy 2022 recognises that protecting and restoring nature is essential to both climate mitigation and adaptation, including carbon sequestration, urban cooling, and reducing flood risk. As climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically linked, actions to enhance nature contribute directly to the Council's ambition to reduce emissions and build climate resilience across the borough. (Gateshead Council, 2022a)

As biodiversity continues to decline nationally and globally, these benefits are increasingly at risk. As a public authority, Gateshead Council has a clear responsibility to ensure that its decisions and activities actively contribute to conserving and enhancing biodiversity. Through its policies, programmes and partnerships, the Council seeks to support nature recovery in a way that delivers lasting benefits for both people and wildlife, aligned with its wider strategic priorities.

- Pre-existing policies and strategies

- Local planning policies

- Policies and strategies developed within the reporting period

- Summary of key themes

Pre-existing policies and strategies

Climate Change Strategy 2022

Gateshead's Climate Change Strategy 2022 recognises that climate change and biodiversity loss are closely linked and that action to address climate change can deliver significant co‑benefits for nature, health and wellbeing. The strategy highlights the role of the natural environment in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation, while improving environmental resilience across the borough (Gateshead Council, 2022). (Gateshead Council, 2022a)

The strategy explicitly promotes nature‑based solutions as a means of reducing climate risk, improving environmental quality and delivering wider social benefits. These solutions align closely with the objectives of conserving and enhancing biodiversity and supporting nature recovery at a local level (Gateshead Council, 2022).

The following commitment areas relevant to biodiversity are included within the Climate Change Strategy:

• Natural flood management and water environments: Increasing flood risk is highlighted as one of the key climate impacts affecting Gateshead and the need for adaptation measures to reduce risk and improve resilience is recognised.
  Natural flood management approaches—such as restoring river corridors, wetlands and floodplains—support climate adaptation while also delivering significant biodiversity benefits. This creates a clear policy link between climate resilience objectives and the restoration and enhancement of aquatic and riparian habitats.
• Air quality improvement through environmental measures: Poor air quality is recognised as an existing and future climate‑related challenge for Gateshead and actions that improve environmental quality as part of the response to climate change are highlighted. 
  Measures such as urban greening, tree planting and enhanced green infrastructure contribute to improved air quality while also providing habitat, supporting urban biodiversity and strengthening ecological networks.
• Sustainable place‑making and thriving neighbourhoods: Strong emphasis is placed on creating thriving, resilient neighbourhoods as part of the transition to a low‑carbon future.
  Nature‑rich places contribute to social wellbeing, comfort and liveability. This supports the integration of biodiversity into regeneration, housing, transport and public realm projects as part of sustainable place‑making.
• Equitable access to green space:The strategy recognises that climate impacts and environmental challenges can disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities and promotes actions that deliver co‑benefits across health, inequality and environment.
  This supports efforts to enhance biodiversity in urban areas and neighbourhoods with limited access to quality green space, helping to address ecological inequality while improving access to nature.
• Behaviour change and engagement with nature: Behaviour change and community involvement are identified as essential to delivering climate action at scale, including grassroots action and partnership working.
  Community‑led climate action creates opportunities to embed biodiversity awareness, engagement and stewardship, including tree planting, habitat management, citizen science and education about the value of nature.
• Enabling framework for delivery through other strategies:The Climate Change Strategy is intended to act as an overarching framework that enables delivery through more detailed strategies, action plans and partnership initiatives over time.
  This provides a clear policy hook for later biodiversity‑specific delivery mechanisms, such as the South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Biodiversity Net Gain, ensuring that biodiversity outcomes are embedded within climate delivery rather than treated separately.

More and Better Woods Action Plan

The More and Better Woods Action Plan was published in June 2022 and sets out Gateshead Council's vision. The vision includes the overarching targets: (Gateshead Council, 2022b)

• support the creation of 250 hectares of new woodland by 2050, increasing woodland cover in Gateshead from 15% to 17% (a net 2% increase across the borough)
• bring the Council's existing woodland estate (c. 900 hectares) into positive, sustainable long‑term management by 2050
• deliver increased benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, public access, health and wellbeing, and the local green economy

Detailed aims of the plan include:

• Biodiversity and nature recovery
  • conserve and enhance biodiversity through woodland creation and management that strengthens ecological connectivity, including buffering and linking ancient woodland, Local Wildlife Sites and wildlife corridors
  • restore and improve the condition of ancient woodland, including the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and positive management of Ancient Semi‑Natural Woodland
  • control invasive non‑native species and improve habitat structure through practices such as coppicing, ride creation, deadwood retention and selective thinning
• Climate change and carbon
  • use woodland creation as a key nature‑based solution to support climate mitigation and adaptation, including carbon sequestration and improved climate resilience of habitats
  • deliver approximately 75,000 tonnes of CO₂ sequestration over the lifetime of new native woodland creation
• People, health and communities
  • improve access to woodlands and green space, particularly in urban and deprived areas, supporting physical and mental wellbeing
  • engage local communities and stakeholders in woodland planning, creation and long‑term stewardship
• Delivery and governance
  • apply a UK Forestry Standard‑based site selection and design process to ensure woodland creation delivers benefits for biodiversity, climate, landscape, historic environment, people, soil and water (Forestry Commission, 2017)
  • deliver actions through a phased, funded implementation programme, working in partnership with organisations such as the North East Community Forest and supported by national funding mechanisms

Policy on balloon releases

In 2009 Gateshead signed a declaration, as part of the Durham Biodiversity Partnership's 10th Anniversary, not to undertake balloon releases or to permit them on council land.

The problem with balloon releases is that deflated balloons or balloon fragments left on the ground or floating in water can easily be eaten. Ingesting balloons can cause death by blocking the respiratory tracts or digestive tract and has been documented in marine turtles, dolphins, whales as well as in farm animals.

In addition, the attached strings and ribbons can entangle animals and the use of weights increases the likelihood of balloons landing in the countryside or at sea.

Balloon releases are considered to be environmentally bad practice for this reason.

Local Planning Policies

Strategic policy framework

Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (2010-2030)

• Policy CS18 - Green Infrastructure and the Natural Environment sets the overarching requirement for development to protect, enhance and connect green infrastructure as a borough‑wide network delivering biodiversity, ecological resilience, climate adaptation, landscape quality and public wellbeing.
• Biodiversity considerations are embedded within sustainable development principles, requiring development to be ecologically sustainable, to protect and enhance biodiversity where possible, and to avoid unnecessary harm to habitats and species.
• Policy CS17 - Flood Risk and Water Management promotes natural flood management, river restoration and sustainable drainage systems, recognising their role in delivering habitat creation, ecological connectivity and water‑dependent biodiversity.

Development management policies

Making Spaces for Growing Places (MSGP)

• Policy MSGP30 - Water Quality and River Environments requires development to protect and enhance watercourses as wildlife corridors, improve riparian habitats, prevent pollution, support Water Framework Directive objectives and improve ecological connectivity along rivers and streams.
• Policy MSGP31 - Green Infrastructure and Flood Management Schemes safeguards land within key river catchments, including the Rivers Team, Don and Derwent, for schemes that combine flood storage with habitat creation, biodiversity enhancement, landscape improvement and public access, delivering multiple environmental benefits through nature‑based solutions.
• Policy MSGP32 - Maintaining, Protecting and Enhancing Green Infrastructure requires development to retain existing green infrastructure assets and to deliver new or enhanced provision that:
  • increases biodiversity value
  • improves habitat connectivity
  • maximises multifunctionality
  • secures long‑term management and maintenance.
• Policy MSGP35 - Wardley Manor Country Park protects and enhances this strategic green space, recognising its biodiversity, landscape and recreational value, and requires development to conserve and improve its ecological function, accessibility and long‑term management.
• Policy MSGP36 - Woodland, Trees and Hedgerows protects existing trees, woodland and hedgerows and supports planting, restoration and management that strengthens ecological networks, landscapes and climate resilience.
• Policy MSGP37 - Biodiversity and Geodiversity requires development to conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity, protect designated and priority habitats and species, avoid fragmentation, and provide mitigation or compensation where impacts cannot be avoided.
• Policy MSGP38 - The River Tyne safeguards the River Tyne as a strategic wildlife corridor, requiring development to improve ecological connectivity, protect aquatic and riparian habitats, enhance water quality, and ensure sensitive integration of development, recreation and biodiversity objectives along the river corridor.

Policies and strategies developed within the reporting period

Events guidance

Gateshead Council's Event Organiser Handbook / Event Planning Guidance (PDF, 4 MB) (Gateshead Council, 2023) was published in 2023 and online guidance is regularly updated with the input of council Ecologists.

The guidance includes a range of requirements and good‑practice measures that are directly relevant to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, particularly where events take place on green spaces, parks, waterways and other sensitive sites.

Key nature, ecology and biodiversity‑related provisions:

• Ecology and biodiversity screening at the planning stage
  Event organisers are required to consider potential environmental impacts and to be aware of the presence of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local Nature Reserves and Wildlife Corridors when selecting event locations.pdf). Organisers are directed to Gateshead's ecological mapping resources to inform site choice and layout.
• Avoidance of activities harmful to wildlife
  The guidance highlights specific activities that may harm biodiversity and wildlife, including balloon releases, fireworks, bonfires and inappropriate use of machinery, and advises that these should be avoided or carefully managed, particularly near sensitive habitats and species.
• Protection of wildlife from disturbance
  Event organisers are encouraged to consider the impacts of noise, lighting and sound systems on wildlife, recognising that such disturbances can affect animals, especially in green spaces and near watercourses.
• Pollution prevention and water protection
  The guidance includes measures to prevent pollution of land and water, including careful waste management, protection of ditches and streams, appropriate siting of toilets and cesspits, and preventing runoff or effluent entering watercourses.
• Waste management and resource efficiency
  Organisers are required to put in place waste disposal and recycling arrangements, encouraging reduction of litter and environmental impacts during and after events.
• Greener events and sustainability
  The guidance promotes the concept of "greener events", encouraging organisers to reduce waste, minimise single‑use plastics, consider environmental impacts and adopt more sustainable practices.
• Air quality considerations
  Event organisers are encouraged to reduce emissions by discouraging car use, promoting public transport and active travel, and minimising traffic impacts—supporting wider environmental and air‑quality objectives that also benefit ecosystems.

Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy

Gateshead's Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy (Gateshead Council, 2024a) was developed during the reporting period and published in July 2024.

The GBI Strategy demonstrates how biodiversity considerations are embedded across planning, regeneration, water management and place‑making. The Strategy recognises that biodiverse, well‑connected green and blue spaces are fundamental to nature recovery and commits to expanding and joining up habitats across the borough to form a coherent Nature Recovery Network (Gateshead Council, 2024a).

The Strategy demonstrates the following key biodiversity‑related priorities and commitments:

• Embedding biodiversity as a core function of green and blue infrastructure
  The GBI Strategy establishes biodiverse, nature‑rich environments as the foundation of all green and blue infrastructure benefits, recognising that biodiversity underpins ecosystem services, climate resilience and quality of place across Gateshead.
• Expansion and connectivity of habitats
  The Council commits to expanding, enhancing and joining up habitats across the borough to support a coherent Nature Recovery Network, reducing fragmentation and strengthening ecological connectivity at a landscape scale.
• Protection and enhancement of strategic wildlife corridors
  The Strategy prioritises the protection and enhancement of key wildlife corridors, including river valleys, woodland networks, transport corridors and urban green spaces, to support species movement and resilience.
• Use of river corridors as biodiversity assets
  The River Tyne, River Derwent and River Team are identified as strategically important biodiversity corridors, with commitments to habitat restoration, improved connectivity and sensitive balancing of ecological and recreational pressures.
• Alignment with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
  The GBI Strategy aligns with mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, providing a framework for delivering habitat creation and enhancement on‑site and off‑site, and ensuring biodiversity gains are integrated into development and regeneration activity.
• Supporting delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
  As Responsible Authority for the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS, Gateshead Council positions the GBI network as a key delivery mechanism for LNRS priorities, particularly habitat restoration, connectivity and nature recovery outside designated sites.
• Recognition and enhancement of diverse habitats
  The Strategy recognises the biodiversity value of Gateshead's diverse habitats, including ancient and native woodland, rivers and wetlands, grasslands, brownfield and open mosaic habitats, hedgerows and estuarine environments.
• Targeted support for priority species
  Commitments within the Strategy support habitat enhancements for priority and protected species, including pollinators, farmland birds, bats, amphibians, otter and migratory fish, through improved habitat quality and connectivity.
• Promotion of nature‑based solutions
  The GBI Strategy embeds nature‑based solutions—such as wetlands, river restoration, woodland creation and sustainable drainage systems—to deliver biodiversity gains alongside flood risk management, water quality improvement and climate adaptation.   
• Improving ecological status of water environments
  Integrated water management approaches are promoted to support water bodies in achieving good ecological status, while delivering enhanced habitats for aquatic and riparian species.
• Raising standards for biodiversity in development
  The Strategy commits to significantly raising expectations for the quality and multifunctionality of GBI delivered through new development, ensuring biodiversity is a core component of placemaking rather than an afterthought.
• Long‑term management and stewardship
  The Council recognises the importance of long‑term habitat management and maintenance, committing to governance, monitoring and funding arrangements that secure lasting biodiversity benefits from GBI assets.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)

Within the reporting period, the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) (Gateshead Council, 2026a) has been drafted, with the draft open for public consultation until 18th January 2026. It is the intention to publish the final South of Tyne LNRS in Spring 2026.

Gateshead Council has been appointed the Responsible Authority for the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS which covers Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Sunderland, and has led the preparation of the draft Strategy. South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, the North East Combined Authority (NECA), and Natural England are supporting authorities for the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS, and have been closely involved in the development of the draft Strategy. (Gateshead Council, 2026a) (NECA, 2025)

The South of Tyne LNRS includes an Interactive Local Habitat Map and a Statement of Biodiversity Priorities. The Statement of Biodiversity Priorities sets out a strategic, place‑based framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland, guided by the Lawton principles of more, bigger, better and better connected habitats. The priorities are structured around overarching enabling priorities, habitat‑based priorities, land‑use priorities, and species recovery priorities.

1. Overarching priorities (applicable across all habitats)

• Evidence‑led decision‑making
  Maintain and strengthen a robust local biodiversity evidence base to inform priorities, spatial targeting, investment decisions and monitoring of outcomes.
• People, skills and engagement
  Increase public access to and engagement with nature, support education and citizen science, and build local skills and green jobs to enable long‑term nature recovery.
• Protection and positive management of key sites
  Improve the condition, management and monitoring of existing designated and non‑designated sites, particularly Local Wildlife Sites, through landowner engagement and targeted support.

2. Woodland, trees, scrub and hedgerows

• Ancient and native woodland resilience and restoration
  Restore and positively manage ancient and native woodland, including the accelerated restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS).
• Expansion and connectivity of woodland cover
  Increase the extent of native woodland to improve habitat connectivity, ecosystem services and climate resilience.
• Protection of ancient and veteran trees
  Safeguard ancient and veteran trees through improved management, continuity planning and targeted replacement planting.
• Scrub and hedgerow recovery
  Enhance, expand and reconnect scrub and native hedgerows to support wildlife movement, pollinators and farmland species.

3. Grasslands, heathland and open mosaic habitats

• Restoration and expansion of species‑rich grasslands
  Protect, restore and create biodiverse grasslands, with particular emphasis on enhancing semi‑improved grasslands to increase extent and connectivity.
• Lowland heathland recovery
  Safeguard and expand scarce lowland heathland habitats through targeted restoration, buffering and habitat creation.
• Protection of open mosaic habitats on previously developed land
  Recognise and enhance open mosaic habitats as nationally and locally important for invertebrates and early‑successional species.

4. Freshwater, wetlands and estuaries

• Resilient river and wetland networks
  Restore and reconnect rivers, streams, estuaries and wetlands to improve ecological condition, water quality and habitat connectivity.
• Water quality and pollution reduction
  Reduce diffuse and point‑source pollution through nature‑based solutions, riparian buffers and natural flood management.
• Expansion of water‑dependent habitats
  Create and enhance wetlands, ponds and riparian habitats to support biodiversity, flood resilience and climate adaptation.

6. Farmland habitats

• Nature‑positive land management
  Increase the extent of farmland and equine land managed positively for biodiversity, including field margins, hedgerows and in‑field features.
• Soil, water and climate resilience
  Promote sustainable farming practices that improve soil health, water quality and ecosystem function, supported by agri‑environment funding and farmer collaboration.

7. Urban habitats and green and blue infrastructure

• Resilient urban nature networks
  Restore and expand urban green and blue infrastructure to create better‑connected, multifunctional habitats.
• Access, engagement and stewardship
  Increase access to nature in urban areas and support community‑led management and citizen involvement.
• Supporting priority urban species
  Enhance habitats for pollinators and other priority species through nature‑friendly urban design and management.

8. Species recovery priorities

• Targeted recovery of priority species
  Support the recovery of priority species and assemblages including pollinators, farmland birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and fish, through habitat restoration, connectivity improvements and, where appropriate, reintroductions.
• Addressing key pressures
  Reduce the impacts of invasive non‑native species, habitat fragmentation, water pollution and disturbance that limit species recovery.

Overall aim

Together, these priorities aim to reverse biodiversity decline, strengthen ecological networks, and deliver wider benefits for climate resilience, health and wellbeing, flood mitigation and economic sustainability, while supporting the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain and public sector biodiversity duties.

Summary of key themes

The policies and objectives set out in Section 2 have been grouped under the following key themes, which provide the framework for reporting on Actions Completed to Meet the Biodiversity Duty:

1. Conserving and enhancing woodland habitats
2. Conserving, restoring and enhancing other terrestrial and aquatic habitats
3. Recovering priority species and addressing biodiversity pressures
4. Protecting, expanding and connecting green and blue infrastructure
5. Embedding biodiversity in planning and decision‑making
6. Raising awareness, engagement and stewardship
7. Providing strategic leadership and capacity for long‑term nature recovery

These key themes have been identified by reviewing the policies, strategies and actions reported in Section 2 and grouping them according to the principal ways in which they contribute to the council's Biodiversity Duty. The themes reflect where the council has taken action to conserve and enhance biodiversity, embedded biodiversity considerations within decision‑making, and established policies and frameworks to support long‑term nature recovery.

Actions completed, either alone or in partnership with others, that benefit biodiversity.

Future actions to be considered within the next reporting period.

- 1. Conserving and enhancing woodland habitats

- 2. Conserving, restoring and enhancing other habitats

- 3. Recovering priority species and addressing biodiversity pressures

- 4. Protecting, expanding and connecting green and blue infrastructure

- 5. Embedding biodiversity in planning and decision‑making

- 6. Raising awareness, engagement and stewardship

- 7. Providing strategic leadership and capacity for long‑term nature recovery

1. Conserving and enhancing woodland habitats

Delivery of woodland creation, restoration and management actions to improve habitat quality, connectivity and long‑term resilience, including tree planting, ancient woodland restoration and sustainable woodland management.

Woodland creation

Gateshead Council has continued to deliver significant woodland creation across the borough during the reporting period, contributing directly to improved habitat quality, ecological connectivity and long‑term landscape resilience. During winter 2024/25, seven new sites were identified for planting, with funding secured for more than 21,000 trees on 18 hectares of council land, primarily in the east of the borough where canopy cover is lowest. This follows the 13,000 trees planted in winter 2023/24, bringing the total to 58,032 trees planted since the council set its 100,000‑tree target in 2019.

The council has also supported woodland creation in schools through a partnership with the Royal Forestry Society, resulting in 1,500 trees planted across 11 school sites, with funding secured to expand the programme to up to 15 additional schools. This engagement helps embed biodiversity within education settings while expanding the borough's urban tree network.

To increase woodland extent at scale, the council has proactively secured external funding to purchase land for new planting, including the imminent acquisition of land at South Farm, Barlow, enabling the creation of 33 hectares of new woodland alongside the protection of 7 hectares of existing ancient semi‑natural woodland. This contributes to the council's long‑term target of creating 250 hectares of new woodland and strengthens ecological networks across the borough.

These woodland creation efforts support the council's Biodiversity Duty by expanding native habitat, improving landscape connectivity and enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change.

Tiny forests

The planting of tiny forests in Gateshead has contributed directly to woodland creation and early‑stage habitat development within urban areas. Two tiny forests have been established in Bensham and Birtley, each approximately the size of a tennis court, using the Miyawaki method, a planting technique that places dense clusters of native species together to encourage rapid growth and the development of multi‑layered woodland structure (Earthwatch Europe, 2024). These sites were planted with local schools and delivered in partnership with Earthwatch Europe through the North East Community Forest. The close planting approach promotes faster canopy formation and the creation of new habitats for wildlife, supporting improved biodiversity and ecological resilience.   

By introducing new areas of native woodland within the urban fabric, the project strengthens habitat connectivity, contributes to long‑term woodland expansion and supports the wider nature recovery network across Gateshead.

Woodland Management Plan

In October 2024 Gateshead Council finalised a Forestry Commission approved Woodland Management Plan (WMP) for the period 2024-2034 (Gateshead Council, 2024b). The WMP provides a comprehensive framework for managing 494 hectares of council-owned woodland in line with the UK Forestry Standard. It directly supports the council's statutory Biodiversity Duty under the Environment Act 2021 by embedding biodiversity conservation and enhancement into long-term woodland management. 

The plan prioritises biodiversity in all management activities, including protecting rare and protected species, restoring Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), increasing deadwood, and creating rides, glades and open spaces to improve habitat diversity.

Actions include thinning to encourage natural regeneration, enrichment planting with native species, and managing invasive non-native species (INNS) such as Himalayan balsam and rhododendron. These measures strengthen ecological networks and improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

The plan promotes species and age diversity to build resilience against pests, diseases and climate impacts, supporting nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration, water management and air quality improvement.

It commits to maintaining public access, providing volunteering opportunities, and supporting educational initiatives such as Forest Schools, fostering stewardship and awareness of biodiversity.

Annual monitoring of biodiversity indicators (for example, deadwood levels, natural regeneration, INNS control, SSSI condition) ensures progress is tracked and informs adaptive management.

The plan aligns with Gateshead's More and Better Woods Action Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy priorities, contributing to landscape-scale nature recovery and ecosystem services.

In short, this plan operationalises Gateshead Council's biodiversity commitments by combining active habitat management, species protection, climate resilience, and community involvement, ensuring woodland assets deliver long-term ecological, social and environmental benefits.

Future actions

Continue to be guided by the council's More and Better Woods Action Plan, which commits to supporting the creation of 250 ha of new woodland by 2050 and delivering well‑designed planting that maximises benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing. The council will take forward opportunities to expand woodland cover on both council‑owned and privately‑owned land, working with partners and landowners to secure at least 100 ha of additional land for new planting. New woodland creation will prioritise diverse, resilient ecosystems, contribute to carbon sequestration, and strengthen ecological networks across Gateshead. The council will also continue early engagement with local communities and stakeholders to support long‑term stewardship and ensure new woodlands deliver lasting value for people and wildlife, helping the authority meet its enhanced Biodiversity Duty.

Continue to implement the Woodland Management Plan by delivering biodiversity‑focused woodland management. This will include ongoing thinning, natural regeneration and enrichment planting to diversify woodland structure and increase resilience to pests, diseases and climate impacts. Restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) will progress through reducing conifer cover, encouraging native regeneration and undertaking restocking where necessary.

Cyclical management of coppice, scrub, rides and glades will continue to support ground flora and pollinators, alongside annual monitoring of deadwood levels, regeneration, invasive non‑native species and SSSI condition.

The council will also support volunteer involvement and ensure protected‑species considerations are embedded in all operations, contributing to landscape‑scale nature recovery and fulfilling its Biodiversity Duty.

2. Conserving, restoring and enhancing other habitats

Measures to protect, enhance and reconnect habitats, alongside targeted conservation and recovery actions to support ecological connectivity and protected and priority species.

Habitat management

Gateshead Council is committed to conserving and enhancing biodiversity and its approach prioritises the protection and positive management of Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs) and other council-owned green spaces to strengthen ecological networks, support priority species and deliver wider benefits for climate resilience and community wellbeing. During the reporting period, Gateshead Council has undertaken a range of habitat management actions designed to maintain and improve the biodiversity value of these sites, including scrub control to prevent encroachment, targeted grassland and woodland edge management to improve habitat diversity and connectivity, reedbed management and control of invasive plant species (for example, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed),  hay-cutting and conservation raking, selective thinning and deadwood retention to improve structural diversity and ecological resilience.

Future actions

Gateshead Council will explore opportunities to prepare more detailed management plans for priority sites and seek funding to support their implementation. Work may focus on improving the condition of key habitats within the borough, including species-rich grasslands, wetlands and woodland edges. This may involve scrub removal, targeted habitat restoration and measures to encourage the growth of native plants that support pollinators and other priority species. These actions will contribute to strengthening ecological networks and delivering the objectives of the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Conservation grazing

Gateshead Council is working with several local graziers to deliver conservation grazing across selected Local Wildlife Sites, often using developer contributions to fund the required works and infrastructure. This approach uses controlled grazing by livestock as a natural management tool to maintain and enhance the ecological value of grasslands, scrub and other semi‑natural habitats. Unlike intensive grazing, conservation grazing is carefully planned to create structural diversity within vegetation, prevent scrub encroachment, and support a mosaic of habitats that benefit a wide range of species.

By reducing dominance of coarse grasses and invasive scrub, conservation grazing helps maintain species‑rich grasslands and open habitats that are important for pollinators, ground‑nesting birds and other priority species. This method also promotes natural regeneration and improves connectivity between habitats, contributing to landscape‑scale nature recovery.

These actions directly help Gateshead Council meet its statutory Biodiversity Duty under the Environment Act 2021 by:

• conserving and enhancing biodiversity through active habitat management
• supporting priority species by maintaining suitable conditions for grassland specialists and pollinators
• embedding nature‑based solutions that deliver long‑term ecological resilience without reliance on intensive mechanical intervention
• working in partnership with local land managers to achieve sustainable outcomes for people and wildlife

Future actions

During the next reporting period, Gateshead Council will continue to apply developer contributions secured through legal agreements to deliver ecological enhancement projects across the borough. These works will be prioritised to support biodiversity objectives and ensure compliance with planning obligations.

3. Recovering priority species and addressing biodiversity pressures

Targeted actions to support the recovery of protected and priority species and to address key pressures on biodiversity, including habitat fragmentation, invasive non‑native species, pollution and disturbance.

Connected conservation - Northern Water Vole Recovery Project

Water voles were once widespread across the North East, including Gateshead, but populations have declined significantly in recent decades. Gateshead Council is supporting the development of the Connected Conservation - Northern Water Vole Recovery Programme, an initiative led by Durham Wildlife Trust in partnership with Rivers Trusts, local authorities, government agencies, landowners and community groups. (Durham Wildlife Trust, 2024)

Subject to successful funding bids, this large‑scale project will aim to eradicate invasive American mink, restore river habitats and reintroduce water voles to areas where they have been lost. The programme will also engage local communities through citizen science, raise awareness of biodiversity decline, and apply innovative research and technology to deliver long‑term nature recovery across the region.

Future actions

Gateshead Council will continue to work closely with regional partners to support the Northern Water Vole Recovery Project. Future actions may include exploring funding opportunities, contributing to habitat restoration initiatives, and promoting opportunities for community involvement in monitoring and awareness activities.  

Continue to support mink control/eradication which has been ongoing at two sites in Gateshead since Durham Wildlife Trust's Naturally Native project which aimed to stop the decline of our native water voles in the North East of England and ended in October 2023.

Harvest mouse nest surveys

Since Winter 2022/2023 Gateshead volunteers, LPA Ecologists and Countryside Rangers have undertaken surveys of council owned sites for signs of the presence of harvest mouse Micromys minutus, following training provided at Gateshead sites by the Mammal Society. The surveys led to the discovery of the presence of harvest mouse at several sites within Gateshead in the Derwent Valley and beyond, where the species had not been recorded since the 1980s. The discovery allows us and our partners (for example Durham Wildlife Trust who manage one of the sites) to help conserve the mice and their habitats.

Future actions

Continue to cease opportunities for training for staff and volunteers to identify gaps in species data across the borough.

North East Invasive Non-native Species Strategy and Action Plan

The North East Invasive Non‑Native Species (INNS) Strategy and Action Plan sets out a coordinated approach to managing invasive freshwater and riparian species across river catchments in the region. Its aim is to develop and maintain cost‑effective measures to prevent, detect, control and, where possible, eradicate priority invasive species through partnership working (North East INNS Partnership, 2024).

Gateshead Council has worked alongside partners within the North East INNS Action Group to implement this strategy locally. The focus is on improving regional coordination, raising awareness and biosecurity standards, and strengthening detection and surveillance systems. These actions support rapid response to new incursions and enable the delivery of sustainable, long‑term programmes for the control and eradication of invasive species that pose a significant threat to biodiversity.

Future actions

The North East Invasive Non‑Native Species Strategy will be reviewed in 2026 to ensure its continued effectiveness. As part of this review, Gateshead Council and regional partners will seek to secure longer‑term funding to support sustained delivery of invasive species management and habitat protection measures.

Tyne Kittiwake Partnership

Gateshead Council is an active member of the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership, a collaborative initiative involving local councils, the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), Durham Wildlife Trust (DWT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and local businesses. The partnership was established to protect the nationally significant inland breeding colony of kittiwakes on the Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside; the most inland nesting site for this species globally (Tyne Kittiwake Partnership, 2024).

The partnership works to balance biodiversity conservation with urban development pressures by promoting coexistence rather than exclusion. Key actions include:

• Monitoring and research: Ongoing population monitoring and ecological studies to inform evidence-based management;
• Conflict resolution: Engagement with property owners and businesses to remove harmful deterrents and implement humane solutions, such as alternative nesting structures and managed relocation;
• Habitat enhancement: Delivery of innovative measures including the installation of nesting towers and provision of safe nesting sites to maintain breeding success; and
• Public engagement: Raising awareness through educational initiatives, guided walks and live-streaming projects, fostering community support for species conservation.

This partnership directly supports Gateshead Council's statutory Biodiversity Duty under the Environment Act 2021 by:

• conserving and enhancing biodiversity through actions that protect a red-listed  species
• embedding biodiversity considerations into urban planning and development decisions
• raising awareness and enabling stewardship through public engagement and education
• strengthening ecological resilience by providing alternative nesting sites and reducing pressures that could lead to population decline

Future actions

Gateshead Council will continue to work with the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership to:

• support ongoing monitoring and research to track population trends.
• promote and implement humane conflict resolution measures during major infrastructure works, such as the Tyne Bridge restoration, and public Events.
• continue to support public engagement initiatives to increase awareness and community involvement in species conservation.

4. Protecting, expanding and connecting green and blue infrastructure

Actions to protect existing green and blue assets, enhance habitat quality and strengthen ecological connectivity across the borough through parks, river corridors, urban green spaces and strategic wildlife networks.

Tyne Derwent Way

The Tyne Derwent Way is a nine-mile green-blue corridor linking the Rivers Tyne and Derwent. It was developed by Gateshead Council as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Community Renewal Fund. The project connects urban areas in Gateshead with the Derwent Valley countryside and links key locations including St Mary's Heritage Centre, Gateshead Riverside Park, Dunston Staiths, the Metro Centre, Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Nine Arches Viaduct, Thornley Woodland Centre, and Gibside (Gateshead Council, 2024c).

The project involves creating and upgrading walking and cycling routes to provide continuous access along the corridor and habitat restoration works to improve ecological quality and strengthen connectivity between green spaces. Community engagement activities included volunteer programmes and educational events associated with the project. Cultural and heritage features were incorporated alongside natural improvements.

The Tyne Derwent Way project aims to protect existing habitats, expand green and blue infrastructure, and improve ecological connectivity across the corridor, contributing towards the biodiversity duty.

Future actions

Gateshead Council plans to continue managing habitats along the Tyne Derwent Way and maintain connectivity for wildlife. Further infrastructure upgrades, including footpaths, cycleways, seating areas, and signage, are planned to improve accessibility and tackle the impacts of disturbance/damage by increased visitor numbers. Volunteer programmes focused on habitat management and biodiversity monitoring will be developed. The council will work with regional partners to integrate the Tyne Derwent Way into wider green corridor initiatives and explore long-term funding.

New green infrastructure

During the reporting period, Gateshead Council's Highways Design Team has taken opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure into highways schemes. One example is the ongoing works on Askew Road, where the existing dual two‑lane carriageway is being reconfigured into a single two‑way carriageway with a new shared‑use route. This scheme includes the introduction of an avenue of trees and native scrub planting alongside the route.

These changes will create a new green infrastructure feature that enhances connectivity between existing habitats. The scheme will provide links from urban areas to potential new residential neighbourhoods, strengthen connections to pockets of grassland and woodland habitats to the south, and improve access to areas of accessible natural greenspace within Gateshead Riverside Park to the north. In doing so, the works contribute to reinforcing the nearby designated Wildlife Corridor associated with the River Tyne. The scheme is predicted to result in a 17% increase in the biodiversity value of the site.

This approach demonstrates how the council is embedding biodiversity considerations within infrastructure design by integrating habitat creation and ecological connectivity into transport upgrades. These actions directly support the Biodiversity Duty by conserving and enhancing habitats, increasing ecological network resilience, and ensuring biodiversity is considered from project inception.

Future actions

The council will continue to identify opportunities within forthcoming highways and public realm schemes to incorporate green infrastructure and native planting. Future works will explore options to further strengthen ecological connectivity along key movement corridors, expand tree canopy cover, and integrate biodiversity enhancements into active travel routes. The Highways Design Team will work closely with council ecologists to ensure biodiversity considerations are embedded consistently across project design, delivery and maintenance.

Future actions for green and blue infrastructure

Gateshead Council will implement the following actions identified in the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy to strengthen the borough's green and blue network and support nature recovery:

• Expand and join up habitats: Expand and link habitats across the borough to support core nature sites and create a robust Nature Recovery Network. This includes reducing fragmentation and improving ecological connectivity through targeted habitat restoration and enhancement.
• Improve access and connectivity: Future actions include delivering high-quality green corridors and active travel routes that connect communities with nature. Projects such as the Angel Green Corridor will provide safe pedestrian and cycle routes linking neighbourhoods and green spaces. The Tyne Blue-Green Corridor will upgrade and connect walking and cycling routes along the River Tyne, incorporating sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and wetlands.
• Enhance strategic water corridors: The River Tyne, Derwent Valley, and Team Valley will be priorities for blue infrastructure improvements. Actions include habitat restoration along watercourses, natural flood management measures, and interventions to help water bodies achieve 'good' ecological status under the Water Framework Directive. The Team Valley Sustainable Drainage initiative will incorporate vegetated swales, rain gardens, green roofs, and green walls to manage surface water and improve ecological function.
• Create nature-rich urban spaces: The council will implement borough-wide initiatives such as relaxed mowing regimes to create wildflower meadows and verges, building a linear network of species-rich grasslands. Community open spaces will be enhanced to provide multifunctional areas for play, recreation, and food growing, ensuring equitable access to nature across all neighbourhoods.
• Integrate GBI into development and regeneration: New development will be required to deliver high-quality, multifunctional GBI as a core element of placemaking. This includes expanding tree canopy cover, integrating SuDS, and embedding biodiversity-led design principles from the outset. The Local Plan will set clear standards for GBI provision, ensuring new development contributes to habitat connectivity and climate resilience.
• Long-term management and monitoring: The council will ensure responsibility for ongoing management and maintenance of all GBI is clearly set out and adequately resourced to maximise multifunctional benefits over the long term.

Reviewing grounds maintenance to support the protection, expansion and connection of green and blue infrastructure

Gateshead Council will explore opportunities to review its current approach to grounds maintenance to support the protection, expansion and connection of green and blue infrastructure across council‑managed land. This review would consider how routine activities, such as grass‑cutting, vegetation management and tree‑care, can contribute to strengthening habitat networks, improving the condition of existing green spaces and maintaining the ecological connectivity that underpins the borough's green and blue infrastructure.

As part of this work, the council may consider where adjustments to grass‑cutting regimes could allow areas of grassland to develop greater structural and species diversity, particularly where this could enhance corridors linking parks, verges, river corridors and other open spaces. Vegetation‑management practices may also be reviewed to ensure shrubs, hedgerows and other planted areas continue to function effectively as stepping‑stones and movement routes for wildlife.

Tree management will also be considered, recognising the role of healthy, well‑managed trees in providing habitat, shading, cooling, and continuity between green spaces. Reviewing inspection, pruning and re‑planting practices may help ensure that tree cover is maintained and, where appropriate, gradually expanded in ways that support biodiversity and strengthen landscape resilience.

5. Embedding biodiversity in planning and decision‑making

Application of biodiversity‑focused planning policies to ensure development conserves and enhances biodiversity, protects priority habitats and species, strengthens ecological networks, and prepares for Biodiversity Net Gain delivery.

Tyneside Validation Checklist

Along with Local Authority Ecologist's from Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and South Tyneside, Gateshead Council's Ecologists worked on the updated version of the Tyneside Validation Checklist which was published in 2024 (Tyneside Authorities, 2024).

Most significantly, the checklist was updated to include detail on the minimum local information requirements relating to BNG for planning applications. This provides applicants with clear guidance on requirements relating to BNG, expanding on national validation requirements which provide only basic guidance on the information required for Local Planning Authority (LPA)s to be satisfied that a development is capable of delivering a 10% net gain in biodiversity. This enables the council to effectively fulfil their duty by ensuring net gains for biodiversity can be secured through development.  

Biodiversity SPD and collaboration with North East LPA ecologists

Gateshead Council Ecologists meet regularly with ecology officers from other North East local planning authorities to share legislative and policy updates, best practice guidance, training opportunities and to discuss complex cases and emerging challenges. This collaborative approach supports a consistent and proportionate application of ecological policy across the region, helps to raise the standard of ecological survey, assessment and reporting submitted through the planning process, and strengthens decision‑making by promoting high‑quality, evidence‑led ecological submissions.

Biodiversity net gain processes, data management and training

Data management

Gateshead Council has chosen to use Mycelia, an online tool that helps councils manage biodiversity requirements linked to development, including checking biodiversity net gain, tracking habitat delivery and supporting long‑term monitoring and reporting. The software helps Gateshead handle information more efficiently, manage long‑term monitoring of habitats created or enhanced through development, and report on biodiversity outcomes in a clear and consistent way. This allows Gateshead to secure better outcomes for nature while making best use of limited ecological and planning resources (Mycelia, 2025).

Training

Council officers, including Ecologists, Planners and the Validation Team have received training on how to use Mycelia and its use has been embedded in Development Management Processes to aid at every step of the process of managing development. (Mycelia, 2025)

LPA Ecologists have also attended training provided by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) in BNG Best Practice Principles for Development and BNG metric guidance. They have attended training provided by the Planning Advisory Service and participated in their 'Basecamp' forum for discussing BNG, as well as meeting regularly as a team to establish a consistent approach to assessing BNG information submitted with individual applications.

BNG processes

A 'Preparing for BNG Working Group' was set up including LPA Ecologists, Planners and Legal Services in advance of BNG becoming mandatory. Fortnightly meetings were held to discuss training, processes, publish local BNG guidance on the council's website make decisions such as how Gateshead planning application Decision Notices would communicate BNG related conditions. The working group continues to meet regularly to update processes, BNG related conditions, habitat bank, legal agreements, BNG monitoring fees and BNG reporting.

Gateshead Council has amended its validation processes to accommodate BNG, using a flowchart process to decide when to request additional LPA Ecologist advice, triaging applications to the validation team/planning officers where they are able to confirm a development meets an exemption requirement for example retrospective, self build or de minimis where no habitats exist on site. LPA Ecologist advice is sought where the de minimis exemption is not well evidenced or is unclear, with detailed responses being sent to developers/planners to explain the process. This has led to a quick improvement in the quality of submission and the avoidance of BNG related issues (for example. incorrectly applied exemptions) during the planning process which could cause unnecessary delays.

Gateshead's 'High Maturity' Rating

An independent national benchmarking assessment undertaken by Verna in 2025 evaluated how local planning authorities are implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and fulfilling their statutory biodiversity duties. The assessment reviewed arrangements across the development lifecycle, including validation, assessment, condition discharge, monitoring, enforcement and reporting. (Verna, 2025)

Gateshead Council was assessed as being in the highest maturity quartile nationally, achieving a score of 43 out of 46. This places Gateshead among the leading local authorities in England for readiness and delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the planning system.

Areas of strong performance

The assessment identified particularly strong performance in the following areas:

• Validation - Full marks were achieved, reflecting robust local validation processes and early consideration of biodiversity within planning decisions.
• Condition discharge and enforcement - Gateshead scored full marks, demonstrating effective mechanisms for securing, implementing and enforcing biodiversity commitments on approved developments.
• Monitoring - Full marks were achieved, indicating preparedness for long‑term monitoring of habitat creation and enhancement required under mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Overall governance and delivery - The high overall score reflects a well‑embedded and consistent approach to biodiversity within planning and development management processes. (Verna, 2025)

Overall, the benchmarking results provide independent assurance that Gateshead Council is well positioned to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain effectively, with strong governance, delivery and monitoring arrangements in place to support long‑term biodiversity outcomes across the borough.

BNG Monitoring Fees

In early 2026 the council's Environment and Transport Portfolio is considering a proposal to introduce the charging of fees for monitoring Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) compliance. These fees will enable the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to meet its statutory obligations under the Environment Act 2021, which requires developers to deliver and maintain a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain for at least 30 years.

The fees are necessary  to cover the costs of reviewing monitoring reports, site visits, and any remedial actions required to ensure habitats are delivered as approved. The fees are calculated based on habitat size and technical complexity, as defined in the statutory biodiversity metric and submitted Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP)s.

The fees must meet legal tests under Regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 and be transparent. The plan is that the fees will be secured through Section 106 agreements and the fees will be included in the council-wide fees and charges list for Cabinet approval in February 2026, with charging commencing from April 2026. The fees will cover monitoring for the full 30-year period. This will ensure that Gateshead Council has a clear, lawful, and transparent mechanism to recover costs for BNG monitoring, supporting effective delivery of biodiversity improvements across the borough.

Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA)

From March 2025 the Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) online form has been used to inform all decisions, becoming part of the council's normal ways of working. (Gateshead Council, 2025)

All council Cabinet reports must now be accompanied by an IIA.

The IIA helps us to consider the actual or potential impact of council projects, reviews, commissioning activity, strategies, policies, services or budget proposals on people and places.  It helps to ensure our decision-making process is evidence-led, transparent, better informed and provides an assessment of how a proposal will contribute to the delivery of priorities within our strategic approach, Making Gateshead a Place Where Everyone Thrives and our Corporate Plan.

Almost all council activity will have an impact on people - our employees, residents or customers. The IIA includes 4 main areas for consideration:

• equalities
• health and wellbeing
• socio-economic duty; and
• environment

The Environment section includes a section on Biodiversity, which asks for the potential impacts of the proposals on biodiversity to be considered. This must be completed at the start of the decision making process and at intervals during a project's process, including at the point of taking a report to cabinet.

Housing services

Gateshead Council's Housing Service has increasingly embedded biodiversity considerations within its project processes during the reporting period. Ecological advice is now routinely incorporated, supported by monthly meetings with council ecologists and a formalised framework established with an ecological consultant. This ensures biodiversity matters are identified early and carried through all stages of project development.

At project inception, the Housing Team completes an ecology form to plan the necessary surveys, with advice being sought from council ecologists throughout the process and all recommendations and design implications being discussed and agreed. Ecological recommendations are then passed directly to those delivering the works, ensuring continuity and compliance throughout construction. This early-stage integration allows biodiversity enhancements to be considered alongside design, performance and energy‑efficiency requirements. For example, assessing whether building eaves can remain open without compromising the specification, or incorporating bat‑access tiles and bat‑friendly roofing materials.

Council external wall insulation schemes have also begun to include biodiversity features, such as retrofitting bat and bird boxes into walls before render is applied, creating long-lasting nesting and roosting opportunities within properties located adjacent to high‑value habitats, including areas of ancient woodland.

These measures support the council's Biodiversity Duty by ensuring biodiversity is embedded within housing projects, enabling ecological enhancement within the built environment, and safeguarding opportunities for priority and protected species within residential areas.

Future actions

Future actions will focus on strengthening the integration of ecological considerations within Housing Services' project workflows. The council will explore opportunities to expand the use of biodiversity‑sensitive design features across additional housing programmes, continue refining ecological survey processes at project inception and consider which other council services would benefit from similar processes. Ongoing collaboration with consultants and Construction Services/contractors will help ensure biodiversity recommendations are consistently implemented, supporting long‑term nature recovery within the borough's residential neighbourhoods

Internal council projects

Information sharing across departments, awareness raising and the profile of Biodiversity Net Gain has increased the consideration of biodiversity within the council when planning projects/capital schemes, with the demand for advice and support from council ecologists increasing. Capital schemes including highways, flood alleviation, demolitions, building repairs and improvements and regeneration projects seek ecological advice from project inception and throughout the process.

Future actions

Consider the need for increased Ecologist resource within the council to meet the demands of meeting the Biodiversity Duty. Whilst it is incredibly positive that more council departments are becoming aware of biodiversity issues and biodiversity net gain in particular there is often insufficient Ecology resource internally to provide the necessary advice to each and every project to the standards that would be preferred by council ecologists.

Additionally, some council departments are working at a much lower level of ecological awareness than others, with a mindset that does not allow for ecological advice to be included from project inception. Future actions will tackle overall awareness using key case studies/examples from supportive and forward-thinking council teams to raise the standard of conservation and enhancement of biodiversity.

As existing policies and strategies are reviewed and new ones developed, we will ensure that opportunities to conserve and enhance biodiversity form part of that process. For example:

• Housing Services - Future action could be having a specific environmental/biodiversity policy (for example certified under ISO 14001) which outlines its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
• Highways Asset Management Plan - Covers Highway green spaces (grass verges, trees, hedges, flower and shrub beds and planters located within the adopted highway) currently covers the period 2018-2030 and therefore will be reviewed within the next 5 year reporting period. Measures to conserve and enhance biodiversity within highways assets will be considered and incorporated into the updated plan.
• Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan 2015-2020 - The council needs a clear strategy to ensure that the use of its property portfolio is maximised and supports effective service delivery, being fit for purpose and sustainable. When the plan is updated within the next reporting period measures to conserve and enhance biodiversity within council assets will be fully considered and incorporated in to the updated plan.

Local Plan

Gateshead Council, together with Newcastle City Council, is preparing a new Joint Local Plan to replace the existing Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan. The new Local Plan will guide long‑term development across both authorities and is being designed to integrate updated planning requirements.

Future actions

As part of the Local Plan process, opportunities will be sought to embed biodiversity within planning and decision‑making, ensuring development conserves and enhances biodiversity, protects priority habitats and species, and supports ecological networks.

6. Raising awareness, engagement and stewardship

Actions to improve awareness, understanding and positive behaviours towards biodiversity, including guidance, restrictions on harmful activities, community engagement, volunteering and education initiatives.

Tyne Derwent Way

The Tyne Derwent Way project aims to raise public awareness of Gateshead's natural environment and strengthen community engagement in local stewardship. The nine‑mile route has been designed not only as a walking and cycling trail but as a means of connecting residents and visitors with Gateshead's nature, heritage and culture. The project actively encourages exploration of local wildlife and green spaces, inviting people to "discover nature" along the rivers Tyne and Derwent and to experience the wealth of wildlife found along the corridor.

The project also provides multiple ways for communities to get involved, including volunteering opportunities, "turn up and do" events, a community steering group, and a regularly updated programme of activities for people of all ages. These opportunities help build local stewardship, foster a sense of ownership, and connect people directly with habitat management and environmental improvements.  

Through these engagement activities, alongside improved access to green spaces, heritage interpretation and nature‑focused events, the Tyne Derwent Way project supports Gateshead Council's Biodiversity Duty by increasing public understanding of biodiversity, promoting positive behaviours, and enabling residents to participate in the ongoing care of the natural environment.

Tree planting events / tree planting in schools

Tree‑planting activities across Gateshead have played a significant role in raising awareness of biodiversity and fostering long‑term stewardship among children, schools and local communities. As part of National Tree Week, pupils at Emmaville Primary School helped plant new trees in their school grounds, learning about the importance of trees for wildlife, climate and wellbeing while taking part in hands‑on planting activities. Similar planting sessions delivered through the Gateshead School Tree Planting Project engaged 227 children in 2024 and 447 children in early 2025, with over 1,600 trees planted across multiple school sites.

These sessions enabled children to learn practical skills, understand the role of trees in supporting nature, and contribute directly to habitat creation through hedges, copses and mini‑woodlands designed to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience. Many schools reported increased enthusiasm for outdoor learning, pride in contributing to environmental improvement, and a desire to continue planting and caring for trees.

Through these activities, Gateshead Council is helping to build ecological awareness, strengthen community involvement and nurture future environmental stewards, supporting the Borough's statutory Biodiversity Duty to promote understanding of biodiversity and enable positive action for nature.

Training and guidance

During the reporting period, Ecological Awareness training was delivered to all personnel within Housing Services and Construction Services. The training focused primarily on legislation relating to roosting bats and nesting birds and was designed to increase understanding of ecological constraints and responsibilities during project planning and delivery. The sessions were well received and have led to a noticeable rise in staff interest in ecological considerations, along with an increase in requests for advice from council ecologists. This enhanced awareness supports more informed decision‑making across service areas and contributes to the council's efforts to meet its Biodiversity Duty.

Council ecologists now also deliver annual ecology training for the Planning Team responsible for householder applications. This training covers relevant legislation and planning policy, bat survey guidelines and seasonal requirements, and the ecological elements of the Tyneside Validation Checklist. The training supports a consistent and proportionate approach to ecological issues within the planning process and enables officers to provide clear guidance to householders on ecological requirements. The routine dissemination of Bat Conservation Trust information on bat surveys to householders has also become established practice, helping to raise awareness of the planning system's role in protecting roosting bats and ensuring biodiversity considerations are embedded within decision‑making.

Future actions

Raise awareness of Biodiversity Duty across the council, appointing 'Biodiversity Champions' within each council service who will be responsible for reviewing their procedures and activities to identify area where biodiversity conservation and enhancement can be considered.

Consider expanding ecological awareness training across additional council services, deliver refresher sessions and/or targeted workshops to further strengthen biodiversity-led decision making.

We will continue to assist colleagues across the council in procuring ecological services to ensure biodiversity is considered as part of project design wherever appropriate, working internally to identify and address gaps in resources, training and awareness of the Biodiversity Duty which may act as barriers to the council fulfilling this duty.

Continue school and community tree planting events and explore options for raising awareness and engagement in biodiversity within schools, including National Education Nature Park funding, naming schools as 'Eco'Schools', and supporting/attending school careers events.

Build on the success of previously held training sessions for Gateshead volunteers on surveying for Harvest Mouse. The training, provided with assistance from The Mammal Society led to the discovery of Harvest Mouse (long thought to be extinct in Gateshead) to be present at several council owned sites. Volunteers were trained in survey method and able to continue surveys in subsequent years. We will explore further options to train volunteers and engage them in nature recovery.

7. Providing strategic leadership and capacity for long‑term nature recovery

Actions completed to establish mechanisms, partnerships and evidence bases that enable continued delivery of biodiversity conservation and enhancement beyond the reporting period.

LNRS

During the reporting period, Gateshead Council has demonstrated strategic leadership in nature recovery through its role in developing the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). As the appointed Responsible Authority, Gateshead has led the preparation of the draft Strategy for the area covering Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland, coordinating input from supporting authorities including South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, the North East Combined Authority and Natural England. This work has included producing an Interactive Local Habitat Map and a comprehensive Statement of Biodiversity Priorities, which sets out a shared, place‑based framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across the area.

Through the LNRS, the council has established clear, evidence‑led priorities for habitat restoration, species recovery and improved ecological connectivity, guided by the Lawton principles of creating "more, bigger, better and better‑connected" habitats. This provides a strategic foundation for coordinated, long‑term action and strengthens the borough's capacity to deliver nature recovery in partnership with neighbouring authorities, landowners and communities.

Future actions

Following public consultation, the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy will be finalised and adopted in 2026. As the Responsible Authority for the LNRS, Gateshead Council will lead the establishment of a dedicated delivery partnership to coordinate implementation across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Gateshead will play a central role in shaping priorities, supporting funding bids and working with partners, landowners and local communities to deliver projects that contribute to the agreed biodiversity objectives.

This partnership‑led approach will enable coordinated action to restore habitats, strengthen ecological connectivity and support nature recovery at a landscape scale. It will also help create nature‑rich places that deliver benefits for both wildlife and local residents, supporting the council's statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

Habitat banks

Gateshead Council are proposing to utilise council owned sites for the delivery of offsite Biodiversity Units in conjunction with Durham Wildlife Trust. The sites would then be registered by Durham Wildlife Trust on the Biodiversity Net Gain register and be available for developers to purchase Biodiversity Units from. This will allow local development to provide biodiversity net gain locally, providing newly created /enhanced habitats of value within the borough and will support local priority species without the requirement for further developer contributions to mitigate for these impacts where there are no other options in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy.

Partnerships

The council is a member of the following regional and sub-regional partnerships that work collaboratively to achieve a wide variety of benefits for biodiversity across the northeast. Key outcomes during the reporting period are:

• Northeast Invasive Non-Native Species Partnership - supporting coordinated action to prevent, control and eradicate invasive non‑native species across the north-east, helping to protect native habitats and species and improve long‑term ecological resilience.
• Tyne Kittiwakes Partnership - contributing to the protection of the world's most inland kittiwake colony during major infrastructure works in Gateshead, including the use of innovative nesting solutions to safeguard continued breeding success.
• North East Community Forest - supporting woodland creation and hedgerow planting across Gateshead and the wider community forest area, contributing to increased woodland cover, improved habitat connectivity and carbon sequestration.
• Tyne Catchment Partnership - delivering projects within the River Tyne catchment to improve river connectivity for migratory fish species, restore peatlands and wetlands, and enhance natural flood management and water quality.
• Tyne Estuary Partnership - coordinating nature‑based solutions along the River Tyne to restore estuarine habitats, strengthen climate resilience, and support biodiversity alongside regeneration and employment opportunities.
• River Don Sub-catchment Partnership - undertaking river and floodplain restoration works within the River Don catchment, improving habitat quality for water voles, otters and wetland birds, while delivering wider benefits for water quality and access.

Future actions

Gateshead Council will explore establishing a multi‑agency wildlife‑crime partnership led by Northumbria Police's Wildlife Crime Officer, working with local authority ecologists, specialist groups and organisations such as the Environment Agency, RSPB and the National Trust. The partnership would improve reporting, coordination and prevention of wildlife crime, particularly in sensitive habitats. Strengthening joint working would help protect species and ecological networks, support compliance with environmental legislation and contribute to long‑term biodiversity protection in Gateshead.

Working with universities

Gateshead Council works with local universities to share knowledge and explore opportunities that support biodiversity objectives. Recent discussions and collaborative work have included studies on Biodiversity Net Gain delivery on post-industrial sites within Gateshead, mapping urban species ecology to inform habitat connectivity, and examining the outcomes of different mowing regimes on species-rich grasslands. These partnerships also provide student placements and volunteering opportunities, contributing to practical habitat management and species monitoring while offering skills development for future environmental professionals.

Future actions

The council will continue to explore opportunities for research and innovation with universities, focusing on projects that strengthen evidence-based decision-making and support nature recovery priorities identified in the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

North East Combined Authority (NECA)

Gateshead Council works collaboratively with the North East Combined Authority and the seven constituent local authorities (County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland) to support nature recovery across the region. Through active participation in strategic meetings and partnership forums, the council advocates for the resources, policy alignment and decision‑making powers needed to deliver meaningful and lasting biodiversity outcomes in Gateshead, while also contributing to wider regional and national discussions on nature recovery.

Future actions

Strengthen existing partnerships, advocacy work with NECA and LNRS leadership to work towards nature recovery.

Gateshead Council will continue to work with NECA and other partners to promote the marketplace and identify appropriate schemes within the borough for inclusion on the platform.

The following section sets out the council's planned actions for the next reporting period, reflecting the strengthened requirement under the Environment Act 2021 for public authorities to consider what more they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. These future actions build on the policies, programmes and partnerships described throughout this report and are aligned with the seven themes that structure Gateshead's approach to nature recovery. They identify where continued effort, targeted improvement and new initiatives are required to deliver long‑term ecological resilience, support priority species and habitats, embed biodiversity within decision‑making, and strengthen community involvement.

Together, these planned actions provide a forward‑looking framework that will guide the council's work over the next five years. They ensure that biodiversity considerations remain embedded across council functions and that Gateshead continues to contribute meaningfully to local, regional and national nature‑recovery objectives. The table below summarises these future actions by theme, demonstrating how Gateshead will continue to fulfil its statutory Biodiversity Duty while promoting wider environmental, social and climate‑resilience benefits for the borough.

This section summarises Gateshead Council's performance in delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) during the reporting period from 12 February 2024 to 1st January 2026. The data presented is drawn from approved Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) submitted with planning applications and assessed using the statutory Biodiversity Metric. It includes information on:

• the number of planning permissions requiring BNG and exemptions applied
• how BNG was secured (on-site, off-site, or through statutory credits)
• overall net changes in biodiversity units for habitats, hedgerows and watercourses
• the composition of gains and losses by habitat type; and
• the location of off-site biodiversity units and any use of statutory credits

Data has been collated from Gateshead Council's planning records and BNG monitoring systems, supported by the use of Mycelia software (Mycelia, 2025) for validation, tracking and reporting. This ensures consistency with national requirements under the Environment Act 2021 and provides a clear evidence base for assessing compliance with the council's biodiversity duty.

Activity and approvals

A total of 17 planning permissions required BNG during the reporting period. A further 138 permissions, that would otherwise be required to provide a 10% net gain in biodiversity, were exempt from mandatory BNG.

_{Figure 1: Gateshead planning permissions requiring Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) versus exemptions, 12 Feb 2024 - 1 Jan 2026. Data shows 17 permissions requiring BNG (≈11%) and 138 permissions exempt (≈89%). Source: Gateshead Council BNG dataset.}

How BNG was secured

A total of six Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) were approved by Gateshead Council during the reporting period. Of these approved BGPs, 66.7% achieved BNG on‑site only (4 BGPs); 16.7% used a mix of on‑site and off‑site units (1 BGP); and 16.7% combined on‑site units with statutory credits (1 BGP). No BGPs relied solely on off‑site units or solely on statutory credits.

_{Figure 2: Gateshead Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) securing BNG, 12 Feb 2024 - 1 Jan 2026. Data shows four BGPs securing BNG through on-site units only (66.67%), 1 BGP securing BNG through on-site and off-site units (16.67%) and 1 BGP securing BGP through on-site and statutory credits (16.67).}

Overall net outcomes (all approved BGPs)

Area habitats: net gain +0.420 units (approx. +12.4% including credits), with 0.34 units being on-site gains (10.13%).

Hedgerows: net gain +0.033 units (approx. +17.9% including credits) with 0.012 units being on-site gains (6.56%).

Watercourses: no recorded change in units.

_{Figure 3: Gateshead Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) securing BNG, 12 Feb 2024 - 1 Jan 2026. Data shows on-site changes in habitat area biodiversity units and hedgerow biodiversity units between pre and post-development. (DEFRA, 2023; Natural England, 2023) (Gateshead Council, 2026c)}

_{Figure 4: Composition of biodiversity gains, 12 Feb 2024 - 1 Jan 2026. Data shows pre-development biodiversity units split between habitat types and post-development biodiversity units.}

Hedgerows and lines of trees

Overall hedgerow units increased (+0.012 units), driven by gains in native hedgerow (+0.0965 units, +0.05 km); however, total length decreased slightly (-0.0225 km), mainly due to reductions in non‑native ornamental hedgerows.

Use and location of off‑site units

A small volume of off‑site units was recorded (~0.087 units in total), all located outside the LPA/NCA and neighbouring areas (100% of off‑site units).

Irreplaceable habitat

No approved plans recorded negative impacts on irreplaceable habitats.

Monitoring and enforcement data

No monitoring of BNG outcomes has been undertaken to date.

This report demonstrates how Gateshead Council has met its strengthened Biodiversity Duty by taking coordinated action to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the borough. Through the delivery of woodland creation and management, targeted habitat restoration, species‑recovery initiatives, and the expansion of green and blue infrastructure, the council has strengthened ecological networks and improved habitat quality and resilience. It has also embedded biodiversity within planning and decision‑making processes, including preparations for mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, and has expanded opportunities for community involvement, education and stewardship.

Work undertaken during this reporting period has also laid the foundations for long‑term nature recovery, including leadership of the South of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy and participation in regional partnerships. The future actions identified provide a clear framework for the next five years, ensuring that biodiversity continues to be integrated across council functions and that Gateshead contributes meaningfully to local, regional and national recovery ambitions.

DEFRA (2023), Biodiversity Net Gain: Statutory Metric and Guidance, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London;

Natural England (2023), Local Nature Recovery Strategies: Statutory Guidance, Natural England.

Durham Wildlife Trust (2024), Connected Conservation - Northern Water Vole Recovery Programme, Durham Wildlife Trust.

Earthwatch Europe (2024), Tiny Forests UK - Programme Overview, Earthwatch Europe.

Forestry Commission (2017), The UK Forestry Standard, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Gateshead Council (2022a), Climate Change Strategy, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2022b), More and Better Woods Action Plan, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2023), Event Organiser Handbook / Event Planning Guidance, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2024a), Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2024b), Woodland Management Plan 2024-2034 (Forestry Commission approved), Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2024c), Tyne Derwent Way: Project Overview and Route Information, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2025), Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) - Corporate Framework, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2026a), South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery Strategy (Draft for Consultation), Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2026b), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Monitoring Fees - Proposal for Cabinet Approval, Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Gateshead Council (2026c), BNG Monitoring Dataset (12 Feb 2024 - 1 Jan 2026), Gateshead Council, Gateshead.

Mycelia (2025), Mycelia - Biodiversity Net Gain Management Platform (Product Overview), Mycelia.

North East Combined Authority (NECA) (2025), North East Carbon and Nature Marketplace - Programme Overview, NECA, Newcastle upon Tyne.

North East INNS Partnership (2024), North East Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy and Action Plan, North East INNS Partnership.

The Mammal Society (2023), Harvest Mouse Survey Training Guidance, The Mammal Society, London.

Tyne Kittiwake Partnership (2024), Annual Report and Partnership Summary, Tyne Kittiwake Partnership.

Tyneside Authorities (2024), Tyneside Validation Checklist (BNG and Ecology Requirements), Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and South Tyneside Councils.

UK Parliament (2006), Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, c.16, UK Parliament, London.

UK Parliament (2021), Environment Act 2021, c.30, UK Parliament, London.

Verna (2025), Local Planning Authority BNG Readiness and Delivery Benchmarking, Verna.