Ecology for planning applications in County Durham and Tees Valley

At a glance

All five areas use ERIC North East, the Environmental Records Information Centre, for the local species records an ecologist's desk study draws on.

Durham County Council

What to submit

The council's Biodiversity SPD (April 2025) says a preliminary ecological appraisal report is required for most applications.

Mitigation for new homes

New homes between 0.4 km and 6 km from the coastal European sites pay a coastal mitigation contribution of £662.43 per home on allocated sites or £756.61 on windfall sites (2024 figures). Homes in the Tees catchment also need nutrient mitigation.

Hartlepool Borough Council

What to submit

Its local validation requirements (December 2025) ask for an ecological survey assessment where applications affect listed features, and a draft habitat management and monitoring plan with BNG applications.

Mitigation for new homes

New homes and other overnight accommodation in the River Tees catchment need nutrient neutrality for the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA, and the council runs a Coastal Mitigation Project for recreational pressure.

Sunderland City Council

What to submit

Its validation checklist (January 2024) asks for biodiversity net gain information on all applications except householder ones, a protected species survey where species are known or likely to be present, and a records search from ERIC North East.

Mitigation for new homes

New homes within 7.2 km of the coastal European sites need a shadow habitats regulations assessment, and can mitigate recreational pressure by contributing to the Sunderland Recreation Mitigation Strategy.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

What to submit

Its information requirements (March 2025) ask for a wildlife survey where development is likely to affect protected species or their habitats.

Mitigation for new homes

All new homes need a nutrient budget using Natural England's calculator, with mitigation secured, because of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA.

Darlington Borough Council

What to submit

The council's biodiversity net gain page asks for BNG evidence as part of the ecological impact assessment; its local validation checklist is being updated.

Mitigation for new homes

The whole borough is in the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA catchment, so new overnight accommodation needs nutrient mitigation.

Why the Tees matters for new homes

Nutrients from new homes in the River Tees catchment can harm the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, so councils in the catchment can only approve new overnight accommodation with nutrient mitigation secured. Natural England sells Tees nutrient credits on a continuous basis, and has signalled that a new route will follow under the Nature Restoration Fund. Detailed guides for each council are on the way.