Newton Harcourt Habitat Bank

County: Leicestershire
Local planning authority (LPA): Harborough District Council
National Character Area (NCA): Leicestershire Vales

Birds-eye render of Newton Harcourt Habitat Bank before restoration

Biodiversity Units available:

Very high distinctiveness habitats

Lowland meadows

High distinctiveness habitats

Ponds (priority habitat)

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Mixed scrub
Other neutral grassland

Buy Biodiversity Units

Habitat Bank overview

Our Newton Harcourt Habitat Bank lies across more than 30 hectares of traditional rural estate situated just southeast of the town of Wigston, adjacent to the Kilby Foxton Cancel Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

With two Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) adjoining the site, the local community will be able to enjoy this incredible Habitat bank as it continues to develop across the coming decades.

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 Harborough District Council LPA and the Leicestershire Vales NCA.

Coverage

Adjacent LPAs	Adjacent NCAs
Blaby District Council	Arden
Leicester City Council	Charnwood
Corby Borough Council	High Leicestershire
Rugby Borough Council	Dunsmore and Feldon
Rutland County Council	Mease/Sence Lowlands
Melton Borough Council	Trent Valley Washlands
Charnwood Borough Council	Northamptonshire Vales
West Northamptonshire Council	Northamptonshire Uplands
North Northamptonshire Council	Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield
Oadby and Wigston District Council

Our vision

Across the Newton Harcourt Habitat Bank’s sloping fields runs the River Sence and, within the fields, you can observe archeologically significant ridge and furrow. We’re working to enhance these landscapes and build vital connections between local habitats and the adjacent SSSI.

We’re excited to be developing a beautiful grassland rich in a diverse array of species, aiming to support a variety of nesting birds. We’re equally keen to continue developing ponds that we’ve been creating towards the south of the Habitat Bank, and we’re delighted to watch the broadleaved trees we’ve been planting continue to grow over the coming decades.