Policy information sourced from the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033

DM17 Protecting and Enhancing Watercourses and Flood Defences

  • New development must be set back at a distance of at least eight metres from a main river (3) and an ordinary watercourse (4) , or at an appropriate width as agreed by the Council and/or the Environment Agency, in order to provide a naturalised and undeveloped buffer zone, free of built development, other than for site access and other essential infrastructure connections. Exceptions may be acceptable for the navigable sections of the rivers Lee and Stort where a smaller buffer would result in a better environment or facilities for users of these multifunctional assets and where it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse impacts on flood risk or flood defences and that the natural environment is enhanced. Any reduction of this eight metre zone should be justified as part of a planning application. Consent from the Environment Agency is required for any works within the byelaw distance of a main river, which is generally eight metres. Consent from Epping Forest District Council is required for any works to or within eight metres of an ordinary watercourse. Buffer zones should be designed for the benefit of biodiversity and should be undisturbed by lighting. Planning applications must include a long term scheme to protect and enhance the conservation value of the watercourse and ensure access for flood defence maintenance, in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the Thames River Basin Management Plan.
  • All major development will be required and minor development will be expected, to:
    1. investigate and secure the implementation of environmental enhancements to open (5) sections of the river or watercourse if appropriate; and
    2. investigate and secure the implementation of measures to restore culverted sections of the river or watercourse, if appropriate.
  • Where de-culverting or other river enhancements are shown to be unfeasible, the Council will seek a financial contribution to restore another section of the same watercourse.
  • Proposals must not adversely affect the natural functioning of main rivers and ordinary watercourses, including through culverting.
  • Where appropriate the Council will require planning applications to include a condition survey of existing watercourse infrastructure to demonstrate that it will adequately function for the lifetime of the development and, if necessary, the proposal must make provision for repairs or improvements.
  • Development on or adjacent to a watercourse must not result in the deterioration of the water quality of that watercourse. Development must not impact on the stability of the banks of a watercourse or river.

(3) the main rivers and their associated tributaries are the River Lea, River Lee Navigation and Stort Navigation River Roding, Nazeing Brook, Cobbins Brook and Cripsey Brook.

(4) the ordinary watercourses are those that are not Main Rivers.

(5) Open in this context means any length of watercourse that is not culverted.

For more information please see the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033