Policy information sourced from the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1

GB5 - BLUE RIBBON NETWORK

Our approach

We will protect and enhance the borough’s Blue Ribbon Network, recognising the multifunctional role that rivers and waterbodies play and their potential to contribute to the borough’s regeneration.

We will achieve this by

  • Assessing proposals for development within, over or adjacent to waterbodies for their impacts on the waterbody, waterside environments and navigation, in line with the London Plan and guidance from the licensing stakeholder;
  • Recognising the strategic importance of the River Thames, including maintaining the established Thames Policy Area designation and through working with Thames Landscape Strategy partners to promote enhancement of the river environment;
  • Protecting and prioritising water-related uses and related infrastructure that supports the active use of the Blue Ribbon Network, including slipways, land storage, wet docks, dry docks, moorings, workshops, cranes, canopied warehouses, piers, marinas and boat launches;
  • Promoting opportunities for improved access to waterways, including the provision of infrastructure to support walking, cycling, leisure and recreation and river-based transport;
  • Recognising the role the Blue Ribbon Network plays in flood and surface water management, by safeguarding access to flood defences and working with the Environment Agency and other partners to implement the actions of the Thames Estuary 2100 plan;
  • Protecting aquatic and riverside habitats in the Blue Ribbon Network, consistent with the Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan; and
  • Promoting the improvement of water quality in the Blue Ribbon Network, consistent with the Thames River Basin Management Plan, by working with the Environment Agency and other partners;

We will expect development proposals to

  • Demonstrate that adverse impacts on aquatic and waterside environments are avoided where developments in, over or adjacent to waterbodies are proposed (for residential moorings, refer to Policy GB6);
  • Have regard to the context and character of the Blue Ribbon Network, consistent with the Urban Context and Character Study and Thames Landscape Strategies, where development in the Thames Policy Area is proposed;
  • Restore waterbodies to their natural state in line with actions of the Thames River Basin Management Plan, and ensure developments are set back to provide a minimum 8m buffer strip to the main river, 16m to the Thames Tidal defence and 5m to ordinary watercourses. SuDS must be maximised on these sites to achieve an improvement in water quality in line with the aims of the Water Framework Directive; and
  • Provide an assessment of the impact of the proposal on the status of the waterbody, where it is likely that a proposal would have a significant adverse impact.

For more information please see the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1