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Policy 7.23 | Burial spaces 7.58 The Blue Ribbon Network is ’s Strategic strategic network of water spaces and covers the , canals, rivers, A The Mayor will work with boroughs, lakes, and docks alongside smaller cemetery providers and other key waterbodies. The network is strategically stakeholders to protect existing burial important for London; every London spaces and to promote new provision. borough contains some element of the LDF preparation network – 17 border the Thames and 15 B Boroughs should ensure provision is made contain canals. The nature of waterbodies is for London’s burial needs, including the that there are linked, natural or semi–natural needs of those groups for whom burial systems, therefore the concept of the is the only option. Provision should be network is of vital importance. based on the principle of proximity to local communities and reflect the different Policy 7.24 | Blue Ribbon Network requirements for types of provision. Strategic 7.56 Some boroughs have either run out of, A The Blue Ribbon Network is a strategically or are about to run out of burial space. important series of linked spaces. It should For inner London boroughs this means contribute to the overall quality and requiring provision in outer London or sustainability of London by prioritizing uses beyond, and this can cause serious problems of the waterspace and land alongside of access and cost. This tends to have a it for water related purposes, in particular disproportionate effect on London’s poorest for passenger and freight transport. Regard communities. To ensure it is retained as should be paid to the emerging Thames a choice for Londoners, boroughs should River Basin Management Plan. continue to make provision for burial. Woodland burial sites with public access can provide additional links to London’s 7.59 The Blue Ribbon Network is multi green infrastructure. functional. It provides a transport corridor, and flood management, a source 7.57 There has not been an assessment of burial of water, discharge of treated effluent, a space in London for over 10 years. Work series of diverse and important habitats, carried out on a national level in 200535 recreational opportunities and important indicated that local authority cemetaries landscapes and views. The starting point for in London only had an average of 12 years consideration of development and use of the supply remaining, although the figures in Blue Ribbon Network and land alongside it different areas varied widely. The Mayor will must be the water. The water is the unique work with the Ministry of Justice, cemetery aspect and consideration must initially be providers and other key stakeholders to given as to how it can be used, maintained establish the current situation, to identify and improved. barriers to supply and any necessary changes to planning policy. Consideration will be 7.60 The is currently given to the provision of supplementary preparing the Thames River Basin guidance to address these issues. Management Plan which covers all the 194 consultation draft replacement London Plan

Map 7.3 Blue Ribbon Network 1 2 3 4 5 Moselle Brook 6 Regents Canal 7 River Lee Navigation 8 Salmons Brook 9 River Roding 10 11 Ingrebourne River 12 River Crane 13 Hogsmill River 14 Beverley Brook 15 River Wandle 16 Ravensbourne River 17 River Cray

Larger Tributary Rivers Canals and River Navigation Large Lakes and Docks Source: Environment and Scientific Services, Bristish Waterways. River Thames © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Authority 100032379 (2009)

waterbodies within London. The final Plan is facilities should be refused unless suitable due for publication in December 2009. replacement facilities are provided b which provide new facilities for passenger and tourist traffic, especially on the Policy 7.25 | Increasing the use of central London stretch of the River the Blue Ribbon Network for passengers Thames will be supported and tourism c which provide improved facilities for cruise ships in London will be supported. Strategic LDF preparation A The Mayor will seek to increase the use C Within LDFs boroughs should identify of the Blue Ribbon Network for passenger locations that are suitable for passenger, and tourist river services, and supports the tourist or cruise liner facilities. principle of additional cruise liner facilities on the Thames. 7.61 On the navigable parts of the network, the Planning decisions Mayor wishes to ensure that uses of the B Development proposals: water and land alongside it are prioritised, a should protect existing facilities for within sustainable limits, for transport waterborne passenger and tourist traffic. purposes – both passenger and freight. Applications which remove existing By reducing demand for other forms of surface transport, particularly on roads, the 195

benefits of water transport link through Planning decisions to other key aspects of this Plan, notably B Development proposals: mitigation and improving the quality of life. For too long these uses a should protect existing facilities for have been marginalised and compromised waterborne freight traffic, in particular by competing developments. In some safeguarded wharves should only be used cases higher value developments have for waterborne freight handling use. The squeezed out landward facilities, in other redevelopment of safeguarded wharves cases waterborne developments such as for other land uses should only permanent moorings have restricted the be accepted if the wharf is no longer speed or berthing abilities for transport viable or capable of being made viable for craft. Recent years have seen substantial waterborne freight handling, (The criteria growth in the use of passenger services for assessing the viability of wharves are on the Thames. This followed investment set out in paragraph 7.65). Temporary in piers by Transport for London and uses should only be allowed where they investment in vessels by private operators. do not preclude the wharf being re-used The Mayor is keen to see continued growth for waterborne freight handling uses, see and his River Services Concordat Group paragraph 7.66. The Mayor will review the has identified a number of actions to fulfill designation of safeguarded wharves prior this aim, including identifying a number of to 2012. locations, particularly in central London, b which increase the use of safeguarded where pier facilities require increases to wharves for waterborne freight transport, capacity, see www.lda.gov.uk/pierplan. especially on wharves which are currently not handling freight by water, will be supported 7.62 The GLA and LDA recently commissioned research into Cruise Liner facilities37. This c adjacent or opposite safeguarded demonstrated that a suitable terminal facility wharves should be designed to minimise in London would be expected to attract a the potential for conflicts of use and significant increase in cruise ship visits. This disturbance would boost the profile of London and help d close to navigable waterways should to diversify the economy. In practice there maximize water transport for bulk are a limited number of locations where a materials, particularly during demolition Cruise Terminal would be viable. The mayor and construction phases. will work with strategic partners including LDF preparation appropriate boroughs to identify suitable C Within LDFs boroughs should identify opportunities over the period of the Plan locations that are suitable for additional waterborne freight. Policy 7.26 | Increasing the use of the

Blue Ribbon Network for freight transport 7.63 Using water based transport for freight is fully in line with a range of national planning Strategic policy, in particular PPG13, which aims to A The Mayor seeks to increase the use of the deliver a modal shift in freight transport to Blue Ribbon Network to transport freight. more sustainable modes. Water transport is recognized as one of the most sustainable 196 consultation draft replacement London Plan

modes, particularly for low value, non time- • its geographical location, in terms of critical bulk movements. proximity and connections to existing and potential market areas 7.64 The safeguarding of a number of wharves • the existing and potential contribution it is a well established aspect of planning in can make towards reducing road based London. The safeguarding directions, some freight movements of which have been in existence since 1997, • existing and potential relationships have successfully maintained a number of between the wharf and other freight sites which can now be used to transport handling sites or land uses goods through London. The Mayor will • the location and availability of capacity support positive action, including the use at comparable alternative wharves, of compulsory purchase powers where having regard to current and projected necessary, to bring inactive sites into use. Port of London and wharf capacity and The specific sites that are safeguarded market demands. are set out in the Safeguarded Wharves 7.66 Appropriate temporary uses on vacant Implementation Report January 2005. safeguarded wharves can ensure that Appropriate access to the highway network investment in the wharf is maintained and and relevant freight handling infrastructure image problems are minimised for the wider such as jetties should also be protected. area. Temporary uses must maintain the The safeguarding will be reviewed and existing freight handling infrastructure to a updated approximately every five years. specified standard, be limited by a temporary The next review will look at opportunities permission with a specific end date and to consolidate wharves, expand the use priority should be given to uses which of water freight and consider whether it is require a waterside location. Temporary uses appropriate to safeguard any wharf facilities should not be permitted where a permanent on London’s canal network. freight handling use is available.

7.65 The redevelopment of safeguarded wharves 7.67 Some wharves are increasingly surrounded should only be accepted if the wharf is no by different land uses that do not have longer viable or capable of being made an industrial or freight purpose. Many viable for waterborne freight handling uses. wharves are in the Opportunity Areas The only exception to this would be for identified in Chapter 2. The challenge is to a strategic proposal of essential benefit minimize conflict between the new and the for London, which cannot be planned for old land uses. This must be met through and delivered on any other site in Greater modifications and safeguards built into London. The viability of a wharf is new and established developments. Wharf dependant on: operators should use appropriate available means to mitigate the environmental impacts • its size, shape, navigational access, road of freight handling. New development next access, rail access (where possible), to or opposite wharves should utilise the planning history, environmental impact layout, use and environmental credentials and surrounding land use context of buildings to design away these potential conflicts. Appropriate highway access to wharves for commercial vehicles needs to be maintained when considering proposals for development of neighbouring sites. 197

Policy 7.27 | Blue Ribbon Network: a particular shortage of boatyard facilities supporting infrastructure and that are capable of inspecting, maintaining recreational use and repairing the larger passenger craft on the Thames. One of the actions in the Planning decisions Implementation Plan will be to promote such a new facility. A Development proposals should enhance the use of the Blue Ribbon Network, in 7.70 Similarly, the historic steps and slipways to particular proposals: the Thames foreshore are often overlooked, a that result in the loss of existing facilities neglected or even removed. These facilities for waterborne sport and leisure should are vital for enabling access to the Thames be refused, unless suitable replacement foreshore given the huge tidal range of the facilities are provided river and the Mayor wishes to see these b should protect and improve existing facilities retained, improved and where access points to (including from land into disused, brought back into use. water such as slipways and steps) or alongside the Blue Ribbon 7.71 The promotion of the use of the Blue Network (including paths). New access Ribbon Network for leisure facilities is infrastructure into and alongside the Blue an important objective. Water provides Ribbon Network will be supported opportunities for particular types of leisure c should protect waterway support and sporting activities such as rowing, infrastructure such as boatyards, canoeing and sailing. Water-based sport and moorings, jetties and safety equipment recreation should be prioritized and facilities etc. New infrastructure to support water that enable or enhance these activities dependent uses will be supported. New should be supported. mooring facilities should normally be off line from main navigation routes, ie in 7.72 The range of permanently moored vessels, basins or docks. for example residential barges, restaurants, LDF preparation bars and offices, add to the diversity and vibrancy of waterways and London in B Within LDFs boroughs should identify general. However, their siting needs careful the location of waterway facilities and consideration so that the navigational role any opportunities for enhancing or of waterways is not compromised. This has extending facilities. been seen on the Thames, with a range of speed restrictions in place and other 7.68 In order to make the maximum use of difficulties with navigating large vessels, the Blue Ribbon Network, particularly for concerns have also been raised on the effective transport, a range of supporting canal network. Such static uses must not infrastructure is required. The infrastructure be allowed to reduce the transport and includes, but is not limited to; boatyards, navigational roles of waterways. jetties, slipways, steps and water side paths/cycleways.

7.69 The Mayor commissioned research in 2007 to investigate the provision of boatyards in London39. From this it is clear that there is 198 consultation draft replacement London Plan

Policy 7.28 | Restoration of the Blue location of opportunities to restore and Ribbon Network enhance the Blue Ribbon Network. Some of these will be implemented through Planning decisions capital projects and some through nearby redevelopments. The database is A Development proposals should restore and reviewed regularly and interactively invites enhance the Blue Ribbon Network by: suggestions for further restoration projects. a taking opportunities to open culverts and naturalise river channels b increasing habitat value. Development Policy 7.29 | The River Thames which reduces should be refused Strategic c preventing development and structures A The River Thames is a strategically into the water space unless it serves a important and iconic feature of London. water-dependent purpose This role should be protected and d protecting the value of the foreshore of promoted. the Thames and tidal rivers e resisting the impounding of rivers Planning decisions f protecting the open character of the B Development proposals along the River Blue Ribbon Network. Thames should be consistent with the LDF preparation relevant Thames Policy Area appraisal. B Within LDFs boroughs should identify any LDF preparation parts of the Blue Ribbon Network where C Thames-side boroughs should identify and particular biodiversity improvements will appraise a Thames Policy Area within their be sought, having reference to the London LDFs based on the guidelines in paragraphs River Restoration Action Plan. 7.78–7.82. Boroughs are encouraged to work in sub-regional partnerships to progress this work. The existing Thames 7.73 London’s rivers have been hugely altered from their natural state. This has generally Strategies have identified had the effect of reducing their value to a range of actions and planning priorities wildlife, and often amenity too. Ultimately that should be reflected in relevant LDFs. this has resulted in the complete loss of rivers such as the Fleet, Tyburn or Effra 7.75 The River Thames is one of London’s icons which now form part of the city’s and merits special attention. The river network. This cannot be allowed to continue changes a great deal in its size and character and a strong policy direction is needed to as it flows through London, particularly reverse previous unsustainable alterations. given the twice daily changes brought by the The improvement of waterbodies to ‘good tidal nature of the river. status’ or ‘good potential’ and not allowing any deterioration are key requirements 7.76 The central London stretches of the Thames of the Water Framework Directive. are world famous locations, featuring well known landmarks and views. Many other 7.74 A partnership led by the Environment stretches have important historic, cultural Agency has produced a River Restoration and natural connections. These aspects of Action Plan40. This database sets out the the Thames should be protected. 199

7.77 As outlined in policies 7.25–7.27 there are • areas and buildings whose functions opportunities to increase the role that the relate or link to the Thames and/or river- Thames plays in transport terms. The Mayor related uses or sites that have the potential believes that river transport should be to be linked increased within sustainable limits and that • areas and buildings that have an historic, owners and users of riverside sites should archaeological or cultural association consider how they could contribute to or with the Thames, including planned benefit from river transport. vistas marked by existing or former landscape features 7.78 The Thames is a borough boundary for • boundaries should have coherence with the vast majority of its length, therefore neighbouring authorities. coordinated planning approaches are essential. The Thames Policy Area is a 7.79 Boroughs are encouraged to carry out this well established tool for ensuring this co- work in collaboration with other boroughs, ordination. Setting the boundary of the and relevant stakeholders. There are three Thames Policy Area should be done in existing partnerships within London that consultation with neighbouring authorities, have delivered appraisals of the Thames for including those across the river. In defining their stretches of the river. These are: the boundaries, boroughs should have • Thames Strategy Hampton–Kew41 regard to the diagrams at the end of this • Thames Strategy Kew-Chelsea42 chapter and the following criteria: • Thames Strategy East43

• proximity to the Thames, including its 7.80 These appraisals provide a good sub- and associated areas of water regional context in which decisions relating such as docks, canals, filter beds and to the planning and management of the river reservoirs, whether or not directly linked can be set. Furthermore, all of the strategies to the Thames, but where an association are supported by the key regional/national with the Thames is retained together with stakeholders. The Mayor encourages all of a proportion of open water the relevant boroughs to participate in the • contiguous areas with clear visual links strategies and for the boroughs between between areas/buildings and the river, Vauxhall Bridge and Tower Bridge to take a including views from across the river similar sub-regional overview of their high and areas where it may be beneficial to profile stretch of the Thames. establish future visual links • specific geographical features – such 7.81 The appraisals should be reviewed regularly as main roads, railway lines, hedges, and would be expected to consider: identified as particularly relevant for defining the boundary across large • the local character of the river open spaces • water based passenger and freight • the whole curtilage of properties or sites transport nodes (both existing and adjacent to the Thames, except where potential) major development sites have been • development sites and regeneration identified and it is intended to publish opportunities master plans/strategies for • opportunities for environmental and urban future development design improvements 200 consultation draft replacement London Plan

• sites of ecological or archaeological allow a margin of land for future importance flood defences. • areas, sites, buildings, structures, landscapes and views of particular 7.85 In some parts of London the Thames is sensitivity and importance designated as open space, for example as • focal points of public activity Metropolitan Open Land or falls within • public access Conservation Areas. In areas where it is • recreation and marine infrastructure likely to be feasible to increase transport • indicative flood risk. use of the river, such designations need careful consideration such that they do not 7.82 They should also identify areas of deficiency, hinder or prevent the development of and and the actions needed to address these improvements to these water-based uses. deficiencies, in facilities for: 7.86 During the lifetime of this London Plan • water-based passenger, tourism and freight the Thames Sewer Tunnels will be transport constructed (see Policy 5.14). These should • water-based sport and leisure be designed to minimize impacts on the • access and safety provision river, maximize water based freight and • marine support facilities and infrastructure consider permanent uses for any required and moorings. infrastructure such as jetties.

7.83 The appraisals should be used as guidance Policy 7.30 | London’s canals and for LDFs and development control decisions. other rivers and waterspaces They also include specific implementation projects for local authorities and other organisations in a position to implement Planning decisions river-related projects. They should also be A Development proposals along London’s used to identify important riverside sites canal network and other rivers and and determine the river-related expectations waterbodies (such as reservoirs, lakes and for them. ponds) should respect their local character and contribute to their accessibility and 7.84 As part of major development proposals for active water related uses, in particular sites with a Thames frontage, consideration transport uses, where these are possible. should be given to the need and desirability B Development within or alongside London’s of having facilities to enable access to docks should protect and promote the and from the river, both for boats and for vitality, attractiveness and historical interest pedestrians. This may include the retention, of London’s remaining dock areas by: refurbishment or reinstatement of existing or former access points or the provision of new a preventing their partial or complete facilities. Along the Thames in east London in-filling there are locations where a large amount of b promoting their use for mooring visiting development is envisaged in Opportunity cruise ships and other vessels Areas. Some of these locations offer the c encouraging the sensitive use of natural opportunity for creating significant public landscaping and materials in and around open spaces, which should be pursued. dock areas These may be dovetailed with the need to d promoting their use for water recreation 201

e promoting their use for transport 7.88 The Mayor places great emphasis on ensuring that new development utilises the LDF preparation water space; primarily for transport purposes C Within LDFs boroughs should identify any where that is possible, but also for active local opportunities for increasing the local water based leisure, for informal waterside distinctiveness and use of their parts of the recreation or access and for the protection Blue Ribbon Network. and enhancement of biodiversity.

7.89 The Blue Ribbon Network is also a 7.87 London’s wide diversity of water spaces that valuable educational resource and several constitute the Blue Ribbon Network require organisations have been established which a careful approach to their planning and specifically promote water based educational management. Rivers, lakes and ponds are programmes. The Blue Ribbon Network is heavily affected by natural forces such as often an appropriate setting for public art flooding and erosion, even manmade canals and performance. People generally like to and reservoirs are affected to some degree. gather by the waterside and opportunities It is important to see these as dynamic for this should be encouraged. systems and ensure that development in or close to the network respects its particular 7.90 The Mayor is particularly mindful that the characteristics (see also policies 5.12–5.15). very nature of the Blue Ribbon Network is There are some aspects of the management that it flows into London from adjoining of the Blue Ribbon Network – cleaning regions and that the Thames flows out of rivers, for example, where lines of of London in the two adjoining regions. responsibility are blurred. The Mayor will Communication across regional and local work with the relevant organisations to seek authority boundaries will be important to to clarify these responsibilities. sustainable management of the system. 202 consultation draft replacement London Plan

Thames Policy Area Hampton to Wandsworth Thames Policy Area Wandsworth to Bermondsey

Thames Policy Area Bermondsey to Woolwich Thames Policy Area Woolwich to Crayford Ness