Chalk Streams Planning Guidance
We’re proud to have collaborated with the Chess Smarter Water Catchment Project and Chilterns National Landscape on the launch of the Chilterns Chalk Streams Planning Guidance – the first of its kind in England. This important new resource aims to improve the way chalk streams are considered in planning and development decisions, helping to protect and restore these rare and precious ecosystems across the Chilterns.
Why It Matters
Chalk streams are often described as England’s “rainforests” – globally rare, ecologically rich, and deeply connected to the Chilterns’ natural and cultural heritage. However, they are under increasing pressure from development, pollution, over-abstraction, and climate change.
This guidance offers a way forward; a set of practical recommendations for planners, developers, and communities to ensure these precious rivers are properly considered and protected in the planning system.
What the Guidance Covers:
- Why chalk streams matter – and their protection under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
- Key planning principles to avoid harm and support positive outcomes for river health and biodiversity.
- Policy recommendations for Local and Neighbourhood Plans, covering water use, biodiversity, sustainable drainage, and development buffers.
- Practical steps for mitigating abstraction, surface water pollution, sewage discharge, and habitat restoration.
This document will be particularly useful for those involved in environmental planning, policy development, and local nature recovery.
