Policy information sourced from the Elmbridge Development Management Plan
DM13 - Riverside development and uses
Development proposals and uses will be considered acceptable provided they:
- Sympathetically reflect their riverside location and respect the riverside outlook and orientation, protecting and enhancing the individuality and character of the river and its landscape in accordance with the Thames Landscape Strategy, including views and vistas. This is particularly relevant to development proposals that are within or conspicuous from the Thames Policy Area or fall within or adjacent to conservation areas. In all riverside locations, it will be appropriate for a strip of land to be retained free of development to maintain the open character of the riverside as well as providing important maintenance space and public access, where present, in the interests of biodiversity and alleviating flood risk,
- Demonstrate the retention, restoration, improvement to or introduction of river-related uses which make a contribution to its special character,
- Protect, conserve and actively enhance the landscape and biodiversity of the river and do not adversely affect water or ecological quality in the area in accordance with the Water Framework Directive,
- Protect and promote the history and heritage of the river, including landscape features, historic buildings, important structures and archaeological resources associated with the river and incorporates existing features,
- Support opportunities to improve provision for public access to the riverside and/or protects and improves existing access points and links to the riverside, and
- Take into account the changing situation with respect to guidance relating to water movement, flood risk, climate change, biodiversity and navigation. All development proposals within flood risk areas will need to take account of Core Strategy policy CS26 Flooding and other national guidance.
For more information please see the Elmbridge Development Management Plan