SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 63·6.125
Exceptional circumstances for artificial modification of watercourses
Artificial modification of watercourses should only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, limited to short culverts (usually less than 10m) for site access or for engineering reasons unrelated to development.
Planning authorities should only permit the artificial modification of a watercourse in the exceptional circumstances where culverting of a short length of a watercourse (usually less than 10m) is necessary to provide access to a development site (or part thereof), or where such operations are necessary for engineering reasons unconnected with any development proposal.
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