Policy BG/RC: River corridors

Our rivers, and in particular the River Cam and its tributaries, provide a variety of critical roles in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. The

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

Opportunity Mapping Final Report and 

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Landscape Character Assessment identify key features to protect and opportunities for enhancement of river corridors. The policy will seek to address the following key roles, challenges and opportunities for our river corridors: 

• Supporting habitats: The River Cam is designated as a county wildlife site in recognition of the river’s importance in linking semi-natural habitats, including ecologically-designated sites such as Stourbridge Common Local Nature Reserve and Sheep's Green and Coe Fen Local Nature Reserve, with the wider countryside of South Cambridgeshire. The Integrated Water Management Study notes the critical impact of water abstraction on the health of the chalk streams. The

  The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

  Opportunity Mapping Final Report identifies revitalising the chalk streams network as a priority strategic green infrastructure initiative, with a focus on restoring the chalk streams’ natural shape, form and flow, alongside the critical need to reduce the impact of our water abstraction on the chalk streams (see CC/WE). 

• Water storage: Our rivers are a source of flood risk. Restoration of natural flood plains where practicable and provision of green infrastructure can help reduce flood risk along the rivers itself and beyond. Wet woodland will self-set and grow where conditions are right and management allows. Providing the right conditions for trees to grow in appropriate locations in river corridors can support flood risk mitigation and biodiversity. 

• A defining role in our landscape, heritage and townscape: The 

  The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Landscape Character Assessment identifies the key landscape features of the Cam and other river corridors in Greater Cambridge, and sets out guidance for integrating development into the landscape. 

  This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

   proposals should consider this guidance to inform its response to this policy. 

• Supporting leisure and recreation: the river Cam in particular provides leisure access for walking and cycling. The

  Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

  Opportunity Mapping Final Report identifies an opportunity to enhance this role to create a continuous Cam Valley Trail, and also to enhance connections between the river and other green spaces in and around Cambridge. 

• Supporting tourism: The River Cam is an international tourist attraction, drawing many visitors each year, including for punting and travelling further afield by boat. We want to continue to support this role, but this needs to ensure that it does not harm the other roles noted above. 

Recognising the varied role that the River Cam corridor plays, the

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

Opportunity Mapping Final Report identifies the Cam Valley (split into three parts including north of the city, within the city, and south of the city) as a strategic opportunity for enhancement of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s green infrastructure network.  

There was no specific question in the First Conversation relating to rivers and river corridors. However, a number of responses to the consultation highlighted the importance of protecting and enhancing rivers and streams from damaging activity, and in particular protecting the River Cam tributaries from over abstraction and enabling them to adapt to climate change. A few comments suggested that we should apply the doubling nature aim to water, rivers and associated biodiversity.

Not to have a specific river corridors policy, relying instead on overarching green infrastructure and landscape polices - This alternative is not the preferred approach because of the need to ensure that the important cross-cutting role that our river corridors play in relation to biodiversity, landscape, heritage, recreation and tourism is protected and enhanced.

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 3:

  The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

  and Green Spaces  

• Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Opportunity Mapping Baseline Report (2020) 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

  Opportunity Mapping Final Report (2021) 

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• N/A 

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy 7: The River Cam 

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.