Policy information sourced from the Elmbridge Core Strategy
CS12 - The River Thames Corridor and its tributaries
In recognition of the national importance of the River Thames, and the local importance of the River Wey Navigation and the River Mole, the Council will adopt a co-ordinated partnership approach to the future of the waterways in order to:
- Maintain and enhance the landscape and waterscape
- Conserve and enhance biodiversity (see CS15-Biodiversity) and improve water quality, in accordance with appropriate river basin management plans(32)
- Ensure that new development respects and makes a positive contribution to the waterside environment
- Support opportunities to improve public access to, and develop links from, the Thames Path, to feed into other open spaces and river corridors between Thames Ditton and Weybridge, ensuring that it is safe and accessible to all (see CS14-Green Infrastructure).
- Retain existing, and support new and improved water related uses and features that facilitate the recreational use of rivers and canals
- Reduce flood risk and maintain open areas as potential flood storage (see CS26-Flooding).
Detailed planning guidance which relates to the need for new development to take account of all aspects relating to the waterside setting, will be included in future DPDs that address Development Management and Site Allocations. Additional design guidance relating to riverside developments will be included in a Design and Character SPD.
For more information please see the Elmbridge Core Strategy