Lake planning permission
Discussion
I have been asked by a family freind to look into organising the construction of a large pond/lake on a small field that he owns opposite his house (been helping him manage the construction of some out buildings). He has always wanted a lake and it would be used as a natural wildlife pond, though he is thinking about putting some native fish in it when it is done.
I seem to remember that you do not require planning permission for the formation of a lake but it is not an area I know a huge amount about other than being a fisherman. I am aware that if a lake is to be stocked you need the environment agencies permission. The lake will be on an area that can become water logged though the soil is flint and chalk and drains fairly quickly.
Does anyone have any experience in this are?
I seem to remember that you do not require planning permission for the formation of a lake but it is not an area I know a huge amount about other than being a fisherman. I am aware that if a lake is to be stocked you need the environment agencies permission. The lake will be on an area that can become water logged though the soil is flint and chalk and drains fairly quickly.
Does anyone have any experience in this are?
Davel said:
I'd speak to your local Planning Office at the Council.
If it's agricultural land, you may well need change of use approval or a fresh planning application.
I may be talking b
ks but you do need to be sure..
I will be talking to them in a couple of weeks, but want to be armed with as much information I can gather before I speak to anyone.If it's agricultural land, you may well need change of use approval or a fresh planning application.
I may be talking b
ks but you do need to be sure..randlemarcus said:
Cheers for that! It does however seem to be more about a fishery, so not sure how it compares to a wildlife pond?As above, speak to the Local Authority's Planning Officers. Three things spring to mind -
1. Over a certain volume of water and the Reservoirs Act (or something similar, forget the exact name) may apply. The limit is probably much higher than you would need, but worth checking just to be sure.
2. If any significant volume of material is to be taken off site, the Minerals Planning Authority (usually County Concil) may take an interest as they would see it as mineral working. Easy solution is to retain all the arisings on site and landscape(unless thay have significant value).
3. The Environment Agency may take an interest from a flooding point of view - even though the creation of a waterbody is likely to help any flooding situation.
Notwithstanding the above, hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted without the need to jump through all these hoops.
1. Over a certain volume of water and the Reservoirs Act (or something similar, forget the exact name) may apply. The limit is probably much higher than you would need, but worth checking just to be sure.
2. If any significant volume of material is to be taken off site, the Minerals Planning Authority (usually County Concil) may take an interest as they would see it as mineral working. Easy solution is to retain all the arisings on site and landscape(unless thay have significant value).
3. The Environment Agency may take an interest from a flooding point of view - even though the creation of a waterbody is likely to help any flooding situation.
Notwithstanding the above, hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted without the need to jump through all these hoops.
mrmaggit said:
You may need to line the bottom of the "pond" if the soil does drain water away, as you say.
You will need "puddle clay" for this, and it is not easy to get. I know, I had to source some for a canal repair some years back.
The lake I saw created in the TV programme I refered to below (Dan Pearson's The Garden) was huge (by domestic pond standards) probably the size of a football pitch and, believe it or not, they used a liner. Quite facinating to see how they joined it togther on site with it laid in the excavation, so to speak. It was an interesting excercise but it was also about 5 or 6 years ago so won't be on TV as a repeat. You will need "puddle clay" for this, and it is not easy to get. I know, I had to source some for a canal repair some years back.
RonJohnson said:
As above, speak to the Local Authority's Planning Officers. Three things spring to mind -
1. Over a certain volume of water and the Reservoirs Act (or something similar, forget the exact name) may apply. The limit is probably much higher than you would need, but worth checking just to be sure.
2. If any significant volume of material is to be taken off site, the Minerals Planning Authority (usually County Concil) may take an interest as they would see it as mineral working. Easy solution is to retain all the arisings on site and landscape(unless thay have significant value).
3. The Environment Agency may take an interest from a flooding point of view - even though the creation of a waterbody is likely to help any flooding situation.
Notwithstanding the above, hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted without the need to jump through all these hoops.
Can help with 1 and 3:1. Over a certain volume of water and the Reservoirs Act (or something similar, forget the exact name) may apply. The limit is probably much higher than you would need, but worth checking just to be sure.
2. If any significant volume of material is to be taken off site, the Minerals Planning Authority (usually County Concil) may take an interest as they would see it as mineral working. Easy solution is to retain all the arisings on site and landscape(unless thay have significant value).
3. The Environment Agency may take an interest from a flooding point of view - even though the creation of a waterbody is likely to help any flooding situation.
Notwithstanding the above, hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted without the need to jump through all these hoops.
Reservoirs act and now also covered by the Water Act 2003 and its derivatives. Current threshold for automatic inclusion under the act are any artificial body of water over 25,000 cubic metres, and there are tabled proposals to drop this to 10,000 cubic meters - this is irrespective of use, it's a reservoir then, full stop - it doesn't matter if its your ornamental pond or the outlet of a hydro-electric powerstation, the legislation and coverage is the same.
IF you come under the auspices of the act, you will be required to provide full flood inundation surveys when constructing, and pay for a yearly survey of the lake, with full structural surveys every 1-10 years (10 years max come what may, anywhere between 1-10, the decision is made by the inspecting engineer on the yearly surveys).
Yes they will be all over you with regards to flooding, but I disagree slightly with Mr M - they won't view it as a good thing, only a bad, as they'll suggest it will affect or be affected by groundwater levels, and "what if" it were to overtop and flood, then what.... oh my oh my, daily mail panic ensues.... You have to prove you are prepared for both the "1 in 100 year flood event" and worse, the "1 in 1000 year flood event". Given the 2007 floods in the west / north of england were deemend to be roughly the latter, it's something to bear in mind.
Was the the above guy mentioned the same one who was contesting the water bill to fill his pond? Obviously depends on how you are filling the pond, but I remember the water company charged him like a domestic supply in that they charged him for supply and a percentage for drainage/waste even thou, as he said, he's kept all the water.
gaz132 said:
Was the the above guy mentioned the same one who was contesting the water bill to fill his pond? Obviously depends on how you are filling the pond, but I remember the water company charged him like a domestic supply in that they charged him for supply and a percentage for drainage/waste even thou, as he said, he's kept all the water.
There's another thing the EA will want to sting you for - if its a serious volume, they'll want to know how you are going to fill it. Assuming it wouldn't be mains fed, any extraction over 20 cu. m. per day may require an extraction licence. Which will cost..........Completely agree with Red Leicester - The EA will throw their hands up in Daily Mailesque horror with regards to flooding. Try telling a client that his quarry extension at the top of a hill 2km from the nearest river needs a detailled flood risk assessment.............
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