Water Management Consortium - Planning and Consenting

PLANNING AND CONSENTING

Regular maintenance of all watercourses is essential to ensure the free flow of water and to help prevent flooding of land and property; this includes private (riparian) watercourses for which the adjacent land or property owners are usually responsible, see Your Watercourse Rights And Responsibilities for more information.

The Boards’ Byelaws prevent the erection of any building, structure (whether temporary or permanent) or planting of trees/shrubs etc within nine metres either side of a Board maintained watercourse (either open or piped) without the Board’s consent; this is to ensure that we have uninterrupted access to maintain and improve the watercourse both now and in the future. Consent is also required for any works that increase the flow of surface water or treated foul effluent into the Boards’ drainage network.

Consent will also be required from the Board to undertake any work within the channel of any riparian watercourse within the Boards’ areas for example, the installation of a culvert, weir, or other like obstruction. Lindsey Marsh and Trent Valley boards also consent on behalf of the Lead Local Flood Authority (Lincolnshire County Council) in their respective extended areas (click here to see all Lincolnshire IDB extended areas).

The Boards have powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 to take enforcement action for the removal of any obstructions which are impeding the flow of water in a Board maintained or riparian watercourse.

See the Contact Us page on how to get in touch with the Boards’ Planning and Consenting Team.