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Consent for Works Affecting Watercourses

Introduction

From 6 April 2012 culverting or works affecting the flow of a watercourse requires the prior written consent of Peterborough City Council under the Land Drainage Act 1991. This is a transfer of regulatory powers from the Environment Agency.

Peterborough City Council also has Byelaws which means any works taking place within, under, or over 7 meters of an Ordinary Watercourse also requires consent.

Before submitting this application we recommend that you contact us for advice on your proposal. Under section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, you need consent if you want to erect a culvert or structure that may affect the flow of water on any ordinary watercourse.

What you need to submit

The list below details supporting documents that may need to be submitted as part of your application. Please refer to each section below in order to determine whether or not you need to submit it as part of your application.

Always required

Please ensure that you have completed every section of the application form before submitting. Where sections or questions are not relevant please state this on the form.

The associated help file for this of application can be found online.

Always required

For details of our fees please see the works affecting a watercourse page.

You can now pay online directly to Peterborough City Council.

Always required

This must be an up-to-date Ordnance Survey based location plan at an appropriate scale, usually 1:1250 or 1:2500. In the case of large sites other drawing scales maybe appropriate.

The plan must show:

  • at least 2 main roads and all surrounding buildings or land;
  • the application site (the whole planning unit) ;
  • a north point;
  • a scale bar.

The application site boundary should be edged clearly with a red line. It should include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development; for example, land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around buildings.

A blue line should be drawn around any other land owned by the applicant, close to or adjoining the application site.

We will expect this to be on an A4 size plan or larger.

A sample location plan can be viewed online.

Ordnance Survey map extracts are available from any Ordnance Survey Mapping and Data Centre.

The plan used should:

  • Not be a Land Registry document
  • Not be used for multiple applications
  • Show OS Crown copyright as an acknowledgement
  • Not be a photocopy or screen grab image
  • Not to be copied from existing OS mapping, if using hand drawn maps such as standard streets
  • Show the correct licence number if you wish to print or copy maps for applications
Copyright information

Please be aware that plans based on Ordnance Survey data are Crown copyright and other plans and drawings are the copyright of their authors. The details of any applicable copyright should appear on the original plans concerned. Using copyright protected plans could result in legal action being taken against you by the copyright holder. You are advised to contact the copyright holder before using such plans in making any application.

Updated: February 2017
Status: National requirement
Source: Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015

Always required

You must provide a plan of the site showing:

  • The existing site, including any watercourse;

The plan should be drawn to an appropriate scale, which must be clearly stated.

Always required

You must provide a plan of the site showing:

  • The position of any structures which may influence local river hydraulics, including bridges, pipes and ducts, ways of crossing the watercourse, culverts and screens, embankments, walls, outfalls and so on; and
  • Existing fish passes or structures intended to allow fish to pass upstream and downstream;

The plan should be drawn to an appropriate scale, which must be clearly stated.

Always required

These are to show details of the existing and proposed features such as the following:

  • The materials to be used for any structures.
  • The location of any proposed service pipes or cables which may affect the future maintenance of the watercourse.
  • Details of any tree, shrub, hedgerow, pond or wetland area that may be affected by the proposed works.
  • Details of any planting or seeding.
  • Dams and weirs. (We need a plan showing the extent of the water impounded (held back) under normal and flood conditions so that we can assess the possible effect on land next to the river. The plan must also show any land drains to be affected.)

Required where works encroach into any watercourse

Existing Longitudinal sections taken along the centre line of the watercourse are needed. These must show the existing features including water levels, bed levels and structures. They should extend both upstream and downstream of the proposed work.

Required where works encroach into any watercourse

Proposed Longitudinal sections taken along the centre line of the watercourse are needed. These must show the proposed features including water levels, bed levels and structures. They should extend both upstream and downstream of the proposed work.

Required where works encroach into any watercourse

You should provide cross sections both upstream and downstream of the proposed works. Cross sections should be drawn as if looking downstream on the watercourse and should include details of existing features and water levels.

Required where works encroach into any watercourse

You should provide cross sections both upstream and downstream of the proposed works. Cross sections should be drawn as if looking downstream on the watercourse and should include details of proposed features and water levels.

Published: 15 August 2023