Chippenham Avon Project Masterplan Consultation document

All new development proposals either within the Chippenham Avon Project or within the River Corridor Interface Zone as designated on the masterplan will need to demonstrate how they meet the following planning requirements. Failure to do so to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority may lead to the refusal of planning permission.

CAP1: Biodiversity

All new development in the Chippenham Avon Project should preserve and enhance biodiversity by:

• undertaking river corridor improvements in line with section 7 of the masterplan, where appropriate
• providing landscaping and planting corridors that are appropriate to the riverine environment
• establishing areas of undisturbed habitat for a range of species
• demonstrating that any development has been designed to avoid any temporary or permanent increase in artificial light levels near the river
• seeking opportunities to enhance local wildlife or geodiversity sites and improve their connectivity where possible. Consider priority habitats such as SSSIs and other protected species
• managing and seeking to eradicate invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Canadian Waterweed and Giant hogweed
• employing bio-security measures and procedures to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading invasive non-native species (and other harmful organisms such as diseases) in the wild
• providing ongoing maintenance
• supporting all applications by a Construction Environmental Management Plan that takes account of mitigation measures identified in section 10 of this masterplan that looks specifically at the use of the Chippenham Avon Project by the public and whether the area is being used as expected. This evidence should be used to inform the future design of phases with respect to any increased recreational and associated pressures such as littering
• carrying out a specific all necessary ecological surveys before any works commence to detect the presence of roost, foraging and commuting sites. The results of this survey will inform any works
• removing trees to facilitate the development, new planting of at least one replacement tree, of a species and size appropriate to the locality, will be required.

CAP2: River improvements

In addition to meeting the requirements of Core Policy 52 (Green Infrastructure), any development within the river channel will seek opportunities to naturalise the river system, remove hard engineering/structures and provide ecological improvements in order to restore the habitat and ecology of the River Avon watercourse and its margins, wherever possible. This may involve a range of measures, including:

• de-culverting and removing concrete channels
• removing hard engineering including radial gate and fish passage
• re-grading the river banks
• enhancing in-channel
• planting and creating wildlife habitat
• increasing public engagement with the water.

CAP3: Flood risk and water management

Development of the Chippenham Avon Project will:

• integrate flood risk mitigation measures into site layout and design, including the consideration of impacts elsewhere in the catchment
• be informed by Wiltshire Council's Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and follow a sequential approach taking into account all sources of flooding. Development will be directed to areas at lowest risk of flooding with lower flood depths and velocities
• incorporate Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and sustainable drainage principles, taking account of the 'four pillars' of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) -water quantity, water quality, biodiversity and amenity
• in regard to the control of surface water runoff achieve betterment over pre-development runoff. Post development runoff shall include an appropriate allowance for climate change in line with Environment Agency guidance
• positively impact on existing surface water drainage routes, both underground and overland. Development shall not increase surface water or groundwater flood risk. Any existing surface water or groundwater flooding should be intercepted by the new drainage system. Hydraulic modelling evidence may be required to confirm this
• manage water demand (for example irrigation of planting areas) where consideration should be made of how these can be met in an efficient and sustainable way such as the potential for storage during times of less water stress.

CAP4: Integrated development

For all new development within the Chippenham Avon Project and the Chippenham Avon Project Interface Zone, an integrated approach to new development will be required where land and river uses are considered together.

New development proposals will be expected to demonstrate how they contribute to the aims of the Chippenham Avon Project Masterplan through:

• creating active frontages to the river and open spaces, where feasibly
• improving the setting of the Chippenham Avon Project through well-designed landscaping
• avoiding impacts to and taking opportunities to enhance biodiversity such as through the inclusion of swift nest bricks and bat bricks
• taking opportunity to improve water quality
• contributing to the reduction of flood risk
• taking opportunities to showcase the area's historic significance
• facilitating housing and economic growth adding vibrancy to the area
• contributing to the planting of new trees and creation of new shaded spaces
• considering surfacing materials and lighting to have a minimal effect on the River Avon and other protected species
• considering other indirect effects that a change in land use may have on the River Avon and other protected species
• taking account of and improve the Chippenham Conservation Area

CAP5: Access

Development of the Chippenham Avon Project should seek to improve visual and physical public access in certain areas to and along the river through:

• providing direct, safe and clear access for pedestrians and cycles travelling through Chippenham and the Green River Corridor
• providing segregated pedestrian and cycle routes when practicable
• providing a joined-up approach to river access, considering access and uses up and down stream, as well as across the river channel
• promoting uses and activities along riverside routes to help provide safe public spaces
• balancing ecological protection and public access and carefully considering where access may be restricted for ecological gains
• ensuring that all public spaces and routes are designed and laid out to be accessible for all

CAP6: Public realm

All new development within the Chippenham Avon Project should treat the river as a key element in developing a sense of place and high-quality public realm. Development will be supported that:

• creates public spaces that overlook and engage with the river and open spaces
• provides high quality and appropriate boundary treatment along the river, creating an attractive and robust embankment
• creates a flexible entertainment, festival and events space on Island Park to include performance space and seating
• creates food and drinks terracing with outside seating overlooking Island Park
• provides high quality and appropriate public art, artistic features and wildlife/ecological/ historical interpretation
• provides imaginative screening solutions to obscure visually unattractive areas which would otherwise detract from the setting of the Chippenham Avon Project
• provides boundary treatments proposed as part of specific schemes that are tailored to reflect the river corridor environment, ranging from urbanized to naturalised.

CAP7: Public protection and amenity

In order to address poor air quality in the town, development proposals will need to demonstrate its contribution to a reduction in NO2 throughout project implementation and once completed.

Noise impacts should be considered and mitigated in respect of any proposed construction phases and potentially operational phases where receptors are brought closer to potential noise sources that may affect amenity.

CAP8: Management and maintenance

Applicants should submit to the council a management, maintenance and monitoring plan, outlining how the river environment, including channel, banks and any associated landscaping will be maintained in perpetuity.

Community involvement in the ongoing management, maintenance and monitoring should be encouraged where practicable and addressed in the submitted management and maintenance plan. Specifically, the plan will need to cover the following:

• how ongoing management and maintenance arrangements have been considered, addressed and funded
• how the proposals have been designed to ensure that required maintenance within and around the river channel will be kept to a minimum
• how appropriate bio-security measures and procedures have been considered to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading invasive non-native species and other harmful organisms into the river system

The council will consider the use of conditions and/or legal agreements to ensure that ongoing maintenance and management is adequately addressed through the lifetime of the development.