Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)
River Stour
13.29. The River Stour rises in the Clent Hills of Northern Worcestershire, before flowing in a northerly direction down into Halesowen and then due west through Cradley and Lye to Stourbridge and beyond into South Staffordshire. There it joins the Smestow Brook before flowing South and on into Worcestershire once more where it joins the River Severn. The Stour once helped to power the industrial revolution, and the countless mills and forges which were found all along the rivers course, particularly in the upper reaches within the borough.
Policy DLP54 River Stour and its Tributaries Comment
- The Council will require all development proposals and other enhancement proposals, alongside or in close proximity to the River Stour and its tributaries to accord with the provisions of Policy DLP45 and through cross-boundary partnership working with neighbouring authorities, the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust as appropriate.
- The Council will also require works which:
- enable the restoration of the natural riverbank habitat and, as appropriate, create new habitats, and remove invasive plant species from the riverside environment.
- enable the restoration of the in-channel habitat structure including the removal of culverts and weirs and improving the water quality of discharges into the watercourse.
- seek to retain, or create, an area of Green Infrastructure either side of the River Stour channel and its tributaries, of at least 10 metres in width from each riverbank top, unless this can be satisfactorily demonstrated to be unfeasible or unviable or it is in conflict with other Local Plan policies.
- create a footway and cycleway of a combined width of 3.3 metres (minimum) within a landscaped setting along at least one side of the watercourse to link in with the wider network of paths and cycleways. Where these links are broken, new links shall be formed where possible, and the river bridges which support this network made structurally sound and legible as river crossings to enable connectivity within this network. In some instances, the Council will seek to require the provision of new river bridges.
Justification
13.30. Over time developments that have occurred alongside and over the river have been accompanied by culverts and other man-made features to control or redirect the flow of the river. This has had a detrimental effect on the natural environment as well as leading to a decrease in natural drainage and run-off which has increased the possibilities of flood risk in certain locations. Where possible, future development alongside and close to the river must take steps to reverse or improve this situation. The Stour Valley is recognised as an important wildlife corridor running east to west in the Southern Black Country, linking Western Birmingham to the border of South Staffordshire. When all the tributaries are included, it makes up a large network of interconnected corridors where wildlife can move through a densely populated urban area.
Monitoring
|
Policy |
Indicator |
Target |
|
DLP49 & DLP50 |
Number of proposals for inappropriate development granted planning permission within the Green Belt |
0 |
