We have defined areas next to our waterways in which we should be notified of any planning applications likely to affect our waterways.
Maps and data for our notified areas are available on our open data site (under 'planning buffer').
For applications accompanied by an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and major development the notified area is 150m from the relevant waterway or waterway asset.
The notified area for minor scale development is generally a maximum of 50m from the relevant waterway. There are areas where the notified area is wider, either 75m or 150m from the relevant waterway because there are assets such as reservoirs, tunnels, cuttings and embankments or because of the width or nature of the waterway.
The notified area for household development is generally a maximum of 50m from the relevant waterway. There are areas where the notified area is 150m from the relevant waterway because there are assets such as reservoirs, tunnels, cuttings and embankments or because of the width or nature of the waterway.
In 2022 we returned 806 consultations to local planning authorities because they didn’t fall within our notified area. If as a local planning authority or developer you would like our comments on an application, but technically we are not a statutory consultee, please make this clear to us.
The major and minor areas relate to classifications of planning applications. Major development is defined by the National Planning Policy Framework Glossary. Major proposals have wider potential impacts on our infrastructure and assets which is why the notified area for major proposal is wider. We define our notified area as required by the Development Management Procedure Order 2015 and share this information with Local Planning Authorities so that they can consult us in our role as statutory consultee within the development management process.
