Unlocking Biodiversity Potential Across Newcastle-under-Lyme's Landholdings

Unlocking Biodiversity Potential Across Newcastle-under-Lyme's Landholdings

Unlocking Biodiversity Potential Across Newcastle-under-Lyme's Landholdings
19 August 2026

As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings.


Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain.

Bringing Diverse Expertise Together


Projects of this scale demand more than a single-specialism approach. By drawing on expertise from across our in-house ecology, geospatial, landscape management and planning and landscape assessment teams, we delivered an integrated assessment that combined environmental evidence, spatial analysis and strategic insight, helping the Council identify opportunities and make informed decisions about future land management with confidence.


Using HabiTEP®, TEP's bespoke GIS modelling tool, the team undertook a large-scale desktop habitat assessment across the Council's estate. Developed by our in-house geospatial specialists, HabiTEP® utilises Ordnance Survey and open-source datasets to estimate baseline habitats and assign UKHab classifications, producing outputs compatible with Biodiversity Net Gain assessment methodologies. This enabled the project team to filter, prioritise and assess sites with the greatest potential to deliver meaningful biodiversity uplift while maintaining a high degree of confidence in the results.

Identifying Opportunities for Habitat Banking


Working collaboratively with the Council, we reviewed and refined habitat assessments and biodiversity metric calculations to identify those sites most suitable for future biodiversity enhancement.

The study explored the practical, operational and strategic considerations associated with establishing Council-owned habitat banks (Registered Off-Site Biodiversity Gain Sites).


This included reviewing:


  • Governance arrangements
  • Delivery mechanisms
  • Registration requirements
  • Long-term management responsibilities
  • Financial and operational considerations



The resulting recommendations provided the Council with a clear understanding of the opportunities available and the steps required to establish and manage habitat banking initiatives across its landholding portfolio.

Supporting Informed Decision-Making


An important element of the project was the creation of an interactive web-mapping platform that enabled effective collaboration between the Council and our team.


The platform allowed users to visualise:


  • Land ownership information
  • Existing habitat conditions
  • Biodiversity unit values
  • Existing management and tenancy arrangements
  • Potential biodiversity uplift opportunities


By bringing complex environmental and spatial information together in an accessible format, the platform provided a valuable tool to support informed strategic decision-making.

Delivering a Robust Evidence Base


The study has provided Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council with the evidence base needed to evaluate the future role of Council-owned land in Biodiversity Net Gain delivery.


As local authorities continue to navigate evolving environmental policy and increasing demand for biodiversity units, projects such as this demonstrate the value of combining environmental expertise, data analysis and practical delivery advice to identify opportunities for nature recovery at scale.

TEP delivered a high-quality BNG assessment across Council-owned land, supported by a clear report and intuitive web-based tool. Their understanding of the brief, timely delivery, and professionalism were impressive throughout.


- Service Director (Planning), Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council


Planning for Biodiversity Net Gain?


Whether you're exploring habitat banking opportunities, assessing landholdings or developing a wider Biodiversity Net Gain strategy, our multidisciplinary teams work together to provide integrated advice, helping clients navigate challenges and identify opportunities at every stage of the process.


Contact our team to find out how we can help deliver your environmental objectives.

12 August 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
10 August 2026
TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.
31 July 2026
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Future Gardeners, Routes into Horticulture and the Natural Environment, an award-winning programme dedicated to helping people access careers in horticulture and the wider green sector. To celebrate this milestone, TEP's Tom Young joined partners, supporters and alumni at the 10 year anniversary event in London to recognise and celebrate the invaluable work it has delivered over the past decade. Established by Bankside Open Spaces Trust and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners in 2016, the programme was designed to open doors into horticulture and the natural environment through practical training, hands-on work experience and valuable industry connections. Over the last 10 years, it has empowered countless participants to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to launch their careers. Today, with more than 80% progressing into further training, apprenticeships or employment, the programme is helping to shape the next generation of horticultural and environmental professionals. Future Gardeners combines hands-on learning with work placements across parks, gardens and green spaces throughout London, giving participants valuable real-world experience alongside accredited training, including City & Guilds qualifications. By covering costs such as travel and equipment, the programme helps remove barriers that can prevent people from accessing opportunities within the sector. 
12 August 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
10 August 2026
TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.
12 August 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
10 August 2026
TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.
31 July 2026
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Future Gardeners, Routes into Horticulture and the Natural Environment, an award-winning programme dedicated to helping people access careers in horticulture and the wider green sector. To celebrate this milestone, TEP's Tom Young joined partners, supporters and alumni at the 10 year anniversary event in London to recognise and celebrate the invaluable work it has delivered over the past decade. Established by Bankside Open Spaces Trust and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners in 2016, the programme was designed to open doors into horticulture and the natural environment through practical training, hands-on work experience and valuable industry connections. Over the last 10 years, it has empowered countless participants to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to launch their careers. Today, with more than 80% progressing into further training, apprenticeships or employment, the programme is helping to shape the next generation of horticultural and environmental professionals. Future Gardeners combines hands-on learning with work placements across parks, gardens and green spaces throughout London, giving participants valuable real-world experience alongside accredited training, including City & Guilds qualifications. By covering costs such as travel and equipment, the programme helps remove barriers that can prevent people from accessing opportunities within the sector.