CASE Study - Billingham Beck Country park river restoration
Background
Billingham Beck Valley Country Park, located in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, is a valued green space set within an urban landscape. Managed by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the park extends across both banks of Billingham Beck and, in its northern section, incorporates Thorpe Beck. Recognised as a Local Nature Reserve and lying within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Impact Risk Zone, the park supports a rich diversity of habitats and species.
Despite this ecological value, the beck system has been subject to extensive modification over time. Both Billingham Beck and Thorpe Beck have been artificially confined with earth embankments, dredged, and realigned. The most significant hydromorphological alteration is the presence of a large concrete weir with associated hard bank protection, which disrupts sediment transport, alters river levels, and acts as a barrier to fish passage—restricting access to an estimated 55 km of upstream habitat.
The Proposals
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Excavate a series of breaches in the existing embankments to increase the frequency of wetting of the wet grassland habitats.
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Remove the weir and support walls as well as reinstating natural river processes around the removed weir.
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Improve the existing ford crossing to reduce disturbance of the river bed and improve fish passage.
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Improve floodplain water retention and improve hydromorphological features through the installation of two woody debris dams.
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Block off three ditches and install several scrapes across the main flood plain.
Construction Phase
Delivered in collaboration by the Environment Agency, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, JBA Consulting, and National Highways, Nature Based Solutions acted as the principal contractor, managing delivery throughout the pre-construction and construction phases in full compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
With the support of Haywoods Contracting, works commenced in early 2024 to excavate breaches and scrapes in the northern section of the park, enabling the floodplain to be inundated more frequently. The initial construction phase proved particularly challenging due to persistent heavy rainfall, which caused elevated water levels in the becks. This required the team to adjust operations and move between different areas until conditions improved, ensuring progress remained on schedule ahead of the bird nesting season.
Once water levels subsided, attention turned to the more technical aspects of the project. This included installing cofferdams and pumping sections of the beck to facilitate in-channel works. Fish rescues were also undertaken using electrofishing equipment to ensure no fish were stranded during the process.
The final stage of the project involved reprofiling the banks along with coir matting for support and the removal of a weir, successfully opening up 55 km of upstream habitat to support fish migration.
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