Watercourse advice note (Aylesbury Vale area)
3. Permits and consents
Key principle 7: Developments must have the necessary permits and consents for works, on or near watercourses from the consenting body.
All rivers, streams and ditches are classified as either ‘main rivers’ or ‘ordinary watercourses’. In addition to planning permission, you are likely to need a Permit or Consent to do any work on or near watercourses. There are three different consenting bodies in Buckinghamshire. Who you apply to depends on the classification of the watercourse you are working on.
To check the classification of the watercourse you are working on and to find out which organisation to apply to, use the ‘Identify Type of Watercourse’ Map available on the Lead Local Flood Authority website.
3.1 Main rivers and ‘environmental permits’
Main rivers are usually larger rivers, streams and ditches that are considered strategic in managing flood risk see this link Statutory Main River Map. Works to a main river are covered by Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, which are administered by the Environment Agency.
If working on or near a main river, on or near a flood defence structure, or in a flood plain an Environmental Permit is required. View details of the Environment Agency’s byelaws for the EA Thames Region and the EA Anglian Region.
The Environment Agency provides guidance on how to apply for an environmental permit.
3.2 Ordinary watercourses and land drainage consents
An ordinary watercourse is one that is not considered to be a main typically all small streams and ditches and can include drains, mills, dams, culverts, and weirs.
In order to undertake works on ordinary watercourses land drainage consent is required. In areas within the Internal Drainage Board (see IDB byelaws) this must be sought from Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage Board (IDB). More information on how to apply for land drainage Consent in these areas is provided by the IDB.
In the remaining areas of the Vale, this is the responsibility of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), in this case Buckinghamshire Council.
For more information on how to apply in these areas see Apply for land drainage consent.
3.3 Other permits and consents
Development may need further permits and consents:
- a discharge permit for discharges either into the river or into the ground
- a permit or waste exemption for the recovery and disposal of waste resulting from works
- an abstraction licence if water is being removed from groundwater or a watercourse and/or being diverted around an obstruction
For more information see Flood risk activities: environmental permits (GOV.UK).
Contact the Environment Agency for the most up to date permitting regulations.