]> 2026-04-07T13:06:43+00:00 Case study:Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme 500 en BBC news Approved Environment Agency natural england; RSPB Great Britain Yes No Yes Cumulative benefits can be achieved through undertaking managed realignment schemes for habitat improvements which also form part of the local areas flood risk management strategy. 54.625229362721,-1.2262113001596 environment Environment Agency agency ,, ,,, *The scheme delivered 22 ha of intertidal habitat, comprising a mixture of saltmarsh and mudflats. In addition, other parts of the site delivered areas of saline and brackish water, rough grasslands and coastal and floodplain grassland. *The borrow pits were restored to provide a minimum of 12 ha of freshwater habitat for species such as great crested newt, common frog and aquatic invertebrates and species rich and meadow grassland. *No significant adverse impacts to the hydromorphology and sediment regime in the Tees Estuary are expected. *Features of historic significance, such as salterns (sites historically used for salt making), will be returned to their pre-reclamation situation, reducing current pressures from erosion by burrowing and grazing animals. The regrading of the relic drainage system on site and the location of the breaches were designed, in part, to reduce erosion of the salterns 2024 Fish are thriving for a second year in a saltmarsh created to offset industrial impact. Surveys were carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) at Greatham, Teesside, which was created to restore habitats, so migratory fish that had been absent for hundreds of years could return. Last year's survey recorded the highest diversity of species since monitoring began, and that was maintained this year, the EA said. Flounders, herring, thin-lipped grey mullet and more than 1,000 healthy crabs were among those species found. The Tees estuary is one of the most industrialised in the UK, according to the EA. The saltmarsh was completed six years ago as part of the Greatham North managed realignment scheme, external and the Port Clarence and Greatham South Flood Alleviation Scheme, external, to restore habitats which had been lost in the creation of flood defences. 27006 natural england; RSPB Greatham.png Complete The Environment Agency identified that the implementation of the Tees Tidal Flood Risk Management strategy would result in in the loss of intertidal habitats which form part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. In addition, the need for further coastal defence works necessary as part of the Redcar Flood Alleviation Scheme also has the potential to cause a loss of SPA habitats. The Environment Agency therefore had a legal requirement to deliver at least 20 ha of intertidal habitat within the Tees Estuary as compensation for the impact predicted as part of its flood and coastal risk management projects. The Environment Agency purchased 77 ha of land alongside Greatham Creek (part of the Greatham North flood cell) in order to implement a managed realignment scheme and create the required habitats. The Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme allows future work to the tidal flood defences of the Tees Estuary to continue whilst providing long-term environmental benefit through the conservation of the integrity of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar site. The scheme aimed to create a range of complementary habitats of benefit to a variety of wildlife, and ensure better access to for the public was available Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme greatham managed realignment scheme Tees Northumbria Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees) greatham creek catchment (trib of tidal tees) 10 - 100 km² 149 100 - 200 m Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees) GB103025076030 Flood risk management Habitat and biodiversity Water quality Estuary Fisheries Urban 2024-02-02T11:45:28Z 2460342.9899074 2024-12-09T22:02:00Z 2460654.4180556 Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme 500 1 plainlist 5 [[Category:Case study]] [[Project title::!Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme]] [[Subcatchment title::Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees)]] Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme# QUERY9d84fd463796de9e5cda90fea7bdda5b