Heighington Habitat Bank

County: County Durham
Local planning authority (LPA): Darlington Borough Council
National Character Area (NCA): Tees Lowlands
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-101024002

Birds-eye render of Heighington Habitat Bank before restoration

Biodiversity Units available:

High distinctiveness habitats

Ponds (priority habitat)

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Other neutral grassland

Buy Biodiversity Units

Habitat Bank overview

Across nearly 20 hectares of arable land and pasture situated 8.5km northwest of Darlington town centre, we are establishing new priority habitats, creating far greater connectivity for native wildlife.

We are eagerly transforming the site into a beautiful expanse of wildflower grassland with a network of natural ponds to support a diverse abundance of pondlife.

BNG delivery

At every Habitat Bank, we always look at the land to determine what can be achieved from the very start. Our biodiversity experts assess the soil, wildlife, vegetation, geology, hydrology, management history, and connectivity across the local landscape.

We take a baseline for each Habitat Bank using the statutory biodiversity metric. We carefully select the best possible habitats for us to establish so we can deliver and demonstrate measurable biodiversity gains over time.

Biodiversity Units from this Habitat Bank are ready to purchase now, subject to availability. Provided alongside expert planning support, these Biodiversity Units offer an effective local off-site BNG solution for the Darlington LPA and the Tees Lowlands NCA.

Coverage

Adjacent LPAs	Adjacent NCAs
Durham County Council	Vale of Mowbray
North Yorkshire Council	Pennine Dales Fringe
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council	Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe
	North York Moors and Cleveland Hills
	Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau

Our vision

Accessible via two public footpaths from the north and south sides of the Habitat Bank, the space is becoming a wonderful haven that the local community can admire at their leisure – observing the beautiful meadows as they develop over the years.

Traditional lowland hay meadows will benefit the wildlife and increase species diversity. The Habitat Bank has been designed to complement the agricultural character of the surrounding landscape.

As Heighington Habitat Bank sits within an area that suffers from significant risk of surface water flooding, the enhancements our habitats will make to the soil are vital for improving the landscape’s resilience against flooding by improving soil health.

Our habitat enhancements will truly complement existing hedgerows that surround the site’s five fields. Several species of principal importance living in proximity to the Habitat Bank, including skylarks, cuckoos, yellowhammers, lapwings, grey partridges, brown hares, and hedgehogs, will benefit from the new habitats and management changes.