Horden
This site is in the Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau National Character Area and supplies units to developments across North East. We own it freehold and protect it in perpetuity.
Exact location and grid reference shared on enquiry.
- Planning authority
- County Durham
- Developments supplied
- 8
- Tenure
- Owned freehold
- Protection
- In perpetuity
About the site
Horden Hall Farm is on the northern edge of Peterlee and Horden, on the Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau, with ancient woodland to the north and west, Horden Dene about 100 metres away and the Durham coast to the east. The site was an arable field. Within two kilometres there is priority deciduous and ancient woodland, magnesian limestone grassland, Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land, lowland meadow and coastal cliff, so new habitat here joins what is already around it.
The arable land is being turned into a traditional orchard of apple, plum and other fruit and nut trees, mixed scrub planted with hawthorn and blackthorn around open glades, and species-rich neutral grassland sown with a local wildflower mix that includes yellow rattle. An existing strip of modified grassland is being enhanced to lowland calcareous grassland, the characteristic habitat of the plateau. Two hedgerows are being enhanced to species-rich hedgerow with trees, and a new one planted between the orchard, grassland and scrub.
The grassland is managed by an annual hay cut or light grazing, with stock taken off in summer so the sward can flower and set seed. Scrub is fenced while it establishes. Condition is surveyed in years one, two and five and then every five years, and the plan is revised if a target is missed.
Habitats at Horden
Availability changes as units are allocated, so tell us what you need and we’ll confirm.
- Calcareous grassland
- Lime-rich grassland supporting specialist flora.
- Neutral grassland
- Species-rich neutral grassland, the workhorse habitat for area-based units.
- Traditional orchard
- Priority habitat combining fruit trees, grassland and deadwood.
- Mixed scrub
- Structurally diverse scrub providing nesting, shelter and forage.
- Hedgerow
- Species-rich native hedgerow with trees, generating hedgerow units.
Location
Neighbouring areas are in lighter green. The dot shows the general location.
Which developments this site can serve
No multiplier in the home area and a reduced one in adjacent areas.
Home area, no multiplier
- Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau
Adjacent areas served
- Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe
- Tees Lowlands
- Tyne and Wear Lowlands
Local planning authorities
- County Durham
Neighbouring authorities
- Yorkshire Dales National Park
- North Yorkshire
- Darlington
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Hartlepool
- Sunderland
- Gateshead
- Northumberland
- Westmorland and Furness
How this site is secured
What your authority will examine
Who owns the land, what binds it, and who is responsible if the habitat fails.
Here
We own the land freehold and a conservation covenant or planning obligation protects it permanently, with condition independently monitored throughout.
Who stands behind the obligation
- The land
- We own the land freehold, with no lease and no third-party landowner.
- The covenant
- A conservation covenant or planning obligation protecting each site in perpetuity, registered against the title.
- Responsible Body
- An independent Responsible Body or the local authority can step in if we ever fail to deliver.
- The endowment
- Long-term management is funded by an endowment set aside at allocation.
- Financial strength
- We have £56.5m of capital for land and habitat, and are rated Very Low Risk with an international credit score of A. That capital lets us buy land and create habitat before your programme needs it, and fund its management for the long term.
Check availability at Horden
Send us your metric and postcode and within a day we’ll confirm what is available here, any multiplier and the price.