Chippenham Avon Project Masterplan Consultation document

The key objectives for the delivery of the Chippenham Avon Project are:

• removing the hard engineered radial gate and fish passage that is now past its intended life and replace this with a 'softer' flood mitigation scheme within Chippenham town centre to protect town centre businesses and residents into the future and improve biodiversity
• enabling and encouraging growth and regeneration within central Chippenham including creating more active frontages at the Emery Gate shopping centre and 31-33 High Street in line with the draft Chippenham Neighbourhood Plan
• increasing the functional connection of Chippenham to the river
• protecting and enhancing the biodiversity and environment along the river corridor
• reserving and enhancing the special historic environment
• enhancing and maintaining the unique character and identity of the river corridor and the riverfront
• supporting development that is responsive to the river corridor
• contributing to healthy communities through the provision of improved walking and cycling links and recreation and leisure along the river corridor
• promoting sustainable development
• increasing tourism opportunities
• enhancing the riverfront south of Gladstone Bridge as an attractive natural area and look to re-route the Avon path here to limit flooding and ensure the path is passable for more of the year
• creating areas of public access to the river whilst protecting the ecology
• enabling wildlife to move over, under or through the Town Bridge (High Street), such as a wildlife underpass and/or improved landscaping of banks
• new planting, including many new trees
• increasing understanding and awareness of the local environment and cultural heritage through interpretation boards
• maintaining residential amenity and access to the river from homes
• continuing to better protect up to 100 homes and 110 businesses from an extreme flood event or if the radial gate failed
• creating 250+ jobs and increasing confidence for investment from others in the town centre
• improving the 62 ha of high quality public open space to be enjoyed by all
• increasing opportunities for social connectivity
• increasing outdoor education and training opportunities
• enhancing green infrastructure which will improve amenity and wellbeing for visitors and local residents
• improving fish and eel migration through the River Avon
• improving public physical and mental health outcomes resulting in increased productivity
• increasing opportunities for volunteer groups to become more involved in their local environment
• reducing risk of disruption from flooding to transport infrastructure
• improving climate change resilience
• creating new food and beverage night-time hub around Island Park
• improving the ecological condition of the River Avon watercourses
• removing visually obtrusive structures
• increasing awareness of the river and encouraging more public 'ownership' of these valuable assets
• improving cycling and pedestrian routes and segregating wherever possible
• encouraging modal shift away from the private car in favour of walking and cycling, thus reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality