]> 2026-04-13T16:05:13+00:00 Case study:Greatham Marsh Restoration 500 en Draft Environment Agency The Hospital of God Northumbrian Water Great Britain Environment Agency No No Yes false No 54.63305,-1.23743 Matthew Environment Agency Rountree ,, ,,, *Water quality improvements *Biodiversity River Units *Biodiversity Area Units – including intertidal habitats and with unrestricted inland migration *Nutrient reduction in Tees catchment subject to Nutrient Neutrality advice from NE *Climate change through reduced operational carbon emissions and sequestration in habitat *SPA SSSI improvement – unfavourable declining SSSI Unit die to excess nutrients, SPA objectives to reduce nutrients and restore extend intertidal habitats Nature based solution through increased river channel capacity 28303 Northumbrian Water, The Hospital of God Greatham_map.png In progress The Tees Estuary is one of the most heavily modified and developed estuaries in the UK, with less than 10% of the original intertidal habitats remaining. From 1740, large areas of saltmarsh have been enclosed to form freshwater grazing marsh. However, the industrialisation and systematic land take between 1830 and 1970s has resulted in significant habitat loss. It is estimated that the Tees Estuary has lost over two thirds of its intertidal habitat through waste disposal and infilling over the many years of modification, some 3,000ha, or 30km2. The Greatham Marsh Restoration project is centred on the restoration of intertidal habitat on the low-lying agricultural land near Greatham Village. Historically, the village was on the edge of the marshes but is now inland from the remaining intertidal areas. The land is currently protected by flood banks constructed in the 18th century and a tidal structure with tidal flaps constructed in 1980 by the former water authority. The alignment of Greatham Beck was rationalised in approximately 1981 when the original meandering tributary was infilled. The tidal structure was constructed under a licence that expires on 30 November 2029. A condition of the licence stipulates that on the expiry of the Licence, the structure is removed and riverbanks and foreshore reinstated. This alone would not restore the full extent of natural processes and habitats. The oversized Greatham Beck would become a deep tidal creek and the floodplain would be inundated for long periods of time as a result of historic embankments and ineffective drainage. So the Project intends to restore the former meandering channel of Greatham Beck and the network of tidal creeks within the floodplain. Areas of higher land within the field parcel are proposed to be managed as grasslands for conservation purposes. Habitats would be allowed to migrate inland as sea level rises. The project contributes to achievement of WFD objectives by implementing targets for WFD protected sites found within the conservation objectives of the SPA, and mitigation measures for the Tees Estuary water body. Greatham Marsh Restoration greatham marsh restoration Yes Tees Northumbria Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees) greatham creek catchment (trib of tidal tees) Tees Estuary water body tees estuary water body 10 - 100 km² 149 100 - 200 m Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees) GB103025076030 partnership funding Construction start date – between September 2024 and January 2025 10 months construction phase Construction completion date – between July 2025 and November 2025 Dependent on permission and agreements Marine Licence application submitted January 2024 Planning Permission application submitted April 2024 Landowner Agreement Heads of Terms Partnership Contribution Agreement Estuary Fisheries Flood risk management Habitat and biodiversity 4000 1000 - 5000 k€ TraC GB510302509900 2025-11-01Z 2460980.5 2024-09-01Z 2460554.5 2024-12-09T21:31:06Z 2460654.3965972 2024-12-10T14:29:09Z 2460655.1035764 Greatham Marsh Restoration 500 1 plainlist 5 [[Category:Case study]] [[Project title::!Greatham Marsh Restoration]] [[Subcatchment title::Greatham Creek Catchment (trib of Tidal Tees)]] Greatham Marsh Restoration# QUERY8e597c84be79c7844d3c97fd7d54120f