Comment

Representation ID: 29238

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Environment Agency

We also recommend including the following additions regarding watercourse buffer zones and a presumption against new culverts.

Watercourse buffer zones:
All watercourses and their riparian corridors / floodplains provide excellent networks of blue and green infrastructure and should be protected and enhanced to provide multiple benefits (e.g. increased biodiversity, natural flood management, carbon sequestration etc.). There should be un-development buffer zones of at least 10 m along main river and ordinary watercourses. These buffer zones will allow the creation and management of wildlife corridors to protect and enhance green and blue infrastructure.

Culverting:

We would suggest including a presumption against installing new culverts on watercourses.

This is in line with the Environment Agency’s Internal Policy 169_19 Culverting Watercourses which states: “(The Environment Agency) are opposed to the culverting of any watercourse because of the adverse ecological, flood risk, geomorphological, human safety and aesthetic impacts. Watercourses are important linear features of the landscape and should be maintained as continuous corridors to maximise their benefits to society”.

We would also suggest that where new developments are to be located over an existing culvert, the presumption should be that de-culverting and opening up the watercourse should be always be the first option. Opportunities to re-naturalise watercourses should always be considered as part of developments.