Policy information sourced from the Central Befordshire Local Plan

CC4: Development Close to Watercourses

Development should maximise opportunities for watercourse restoration and enhancement as part of the development. New development will be supported where it can be demonstrated that it will:

  1. Conserve, and where possible, enhance the ecological and flood storage value of the water environment, including the protection and enhancement of priority and protected species such as otter and water vole;
  2. Incorporate and retain existing open watercourses and, where possible, open up existing culverts and create new watercourses within their site design;
  3. Provide a minimum 9m wide undeveloped buffer strip for access, maintenance and natural flood storage, unless otherwise agreed with the relevant Drainage Authority;
  4. Avoid the need for culverting, unless it can be demonstrated no other alternative is feasible, ensuring that any new culvert will have no detriment to flood risk, long term maintenance and operation of the drainage system, or the environment;
  5. Mimic features of natural river morphology and hydrology where alterations to the bank of an ordinary watercourse are proposed or which create a new watercourse as part of a sustainable drainage scheme. Where it is not practicable to do so compensatory measures will be provided;
  6. Maximise opportunities to refurbish and/or renew existing assets (e.g. bridges, culverts and river walls) to ensure their lifetime is commensurate with the lifetime of the development (an assessment of the condition of the assets will be required);
  7. Not involve any building on top of a culverted watercourse, providing an easement of 3m either side, were appropriate; and
  8. Make known the long-term arrangements for the management and maintenance of all watercourses, including culverts.

Development which would compromise access to watercourses, or compromise the performance of flood defence or navigation facilities will not be permitted.

For more information, please visit the Central Befordshire Local Plan