Policy information sourced from Runnymede Local Plan
EE12: Blue Infrastructure
The local planning authority will require applicants to contribute towards the delivery of a high quality multi-functional Blue Infrastructure network by expecting Blue Infrastructure assets to be provided, protected, maintained and enhanced to deliver multiple benefits and services for biodiversity, recreation and landscape.
Therefore, the Council will resist proposals that lead to a decrease in the provision and quality of, and fails to enhance, the status of blue infrastructure, in accordance with the Water Framework Directive.
Proposals will be supported that:
- Demonstrate how they will support improving the status of failing waterbodies, in particular in relation to the requirements of the Thames River Basin Management Plan;
- Do not involve the culverting of watercourses;
- Do not involve the loss of natural banks;
- Make appropriate provision to protect, enhance, improve and maintain accessible networks of Blue Infrastructure, including through deculverting and re-naturalisation of hard banks if appropriate;
- Where appropriate, enable public access to Blue Infrastructure, including through providing undeveloped buffer zones (8m minimum for main rivers and 5m minimum for ordinary water courses). In certain circumstances, these standards could be negotiated to suit the particular ecological and requirements of a site. Any scheme to provide a buffer zone will need to include a working method statement detailing how the buffer zone will be protected during construction and long-term ecological plan.
- Include measures to allow for the natural movement of fish within the watercourse where barriers to fish movement (e.g. weirs) are present.
Development where inclusion of Sustainable Drainage Systems is necessary should have a management plan in place to demonstrate how wildlife has been taken account of.
For more information please see the Local Plan