Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Develpment Managment Policies
P10: Water Quality, Waterbodies and Riparian Corridors
Development proposals that would result in a deterioration in the chemical or ecological status/potential of a waterbody, or prevent improvements to the chemical or ecological status/potential, will not be permitted.
Development proposals that contain or are in the vicinity of a waterbody are required to demonstrate that they have explored opportunities to improve its chemical and ecological status/potential. Where a waterbody is covered by the Water Environment Regulations, proposals are required to align with the objectives of the Thames river basin district River Basin Management Plan.
Non-residential developments, excluding essential infrastructure, that would have a very high water usage are expected to include water collection and storage measures sufficient to avoid, or significantly reduce if avoidance is not possible, abstraction from existing surface-level and groundwater resources or recourse to the public water supply.
Development affecting watercourses
Development proposals are required to explore opportunities to improve and/or restore the flow and functioning of a watercourse.
Development proposals are required to retain or reinstate an undeveloped buffer zone on both sides of a main river measuring a minimum of 10 metres from the top of the riverbank that is supported by a working methods statement detailing how the buffer zone will be protected during construction, and a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan detailing how it will be enhanced in the long-term. For ordinary watercourses, an appropriate buffer is expected that is sufficient to protect and enhance the biodiversity and amenity value of the watercourse.
Development proposals that include the culverting of watercourses, hard bank revetment or which prevent future opportunities for de-culverting and naturalisation of watercourse banks will not be permitted. Development proposals are expected to return banks to a natural state.
Where barriers to fish movement (e.g. weirs) are present in a watercourse, proposals are expected to include the removal of that barrier, or measures to allow for the natural movement of fish within the watercourse where removal is not feasible.
Development proposals are required to identify opportunities for Natural Flood Management, creating wetland features and reconnecting rivers with their floodplains in order to restore natural processes, enhance biodiversity and help manage flood risk.
Ground and surface drinking water
Development proposals within Source Protection Zones and Drinking Water Protected Areas are required to demonstrate that they have had regard to all Environment Agency position statements that are relevant to the proposals.
For more information please see the Local Plan