Buckinghamshire Council Culvert Policy

We are opposed to the culverting of watercourses because of the adverse ecological, flood defence and other effects discussed below. We will therefore adhere to the following policy when assessing any Ordinary Watercourse land drainage consent or planning consents proposing the culverting of a watercourse;

“No watercourse should be culverted unless there is no reasonably practicable alternative or if the detrimental effects of culverting would be so minor that they would not justify a more costly alternative.”

In cases where the policy allows culverting of a watercourse, adequate mitigation must be provided (refer to section 6). Wherever practical we will seek to have existing culverted watercourses restored to open channels through planning consent.