Policy SI 16 — Waterways – use and enjoyment

Policy SI 16 Waterways – use and enjoyment A Development Plans and development proposals should protect and enhance waterway infrastructure. B Development proposals should protect and enhance, where possible, water-related cultural, educational and community facilities and events, and new facilities should be supported and promoted, but should take into consideration the protection and other uses of the waterways. C Development proposals that increase the provision of water sport centres and associated new infrastructure will be supported if a deficit in provision has been identified locally, and if the infrastructure does not negatively impact on navigation or on the protection of the waterway (see Policy SI 17 Protecting and enhancing the London’s waterways ). D Development proposals adjacent to waterways should protect and enhance, where possible, existing moorings. The provision of new moorings and/or required facilities (such as power, water and waste disposal) should be supported if they are: 1) off-line from main navigation routes, in basins or docks, unless there are negative impacts on navigation or on the protection of the waterway (see Policy SI 17 Protecting and enhancing London’s waterways ) 2) appropriately designed including the provision of wash mitigation, where necessary 3) managed in a way that respects the character of the waterways. E Existing access points to waterways (including slipways and historic steps) and alongside waterways (including paths) should be protected and enhanced. F Development proposals along waterways should protect and enhance inclusive public access to and along the waterway front and explore opportunities for new, extended, improved and inclusive access infrastructure to/from the waterways. G Development proposals should improve and expand the Thames Path and the towpaths, improve alignment with the waterway where relevant, enhance them as walking routes, and provide better linkages to the transport network. This will require collaboration with relevant partners including London boroughs, the PLA, the Canal and River Trust, the Environment Agency and Natural England, as well as landowner, developer and community representatives. These paths will be public and not private spaces. 9.16.1 New development should utilise the waterways (also known as the Blue Ribbon Network) for transport purposes where possible, but also for active water-based leisure, and for informal waterside recreation or access. In order to make the maximum use of London’s waterways a range of supporting infrastructure is required including jetties, moorings, slipways, steps and waterside paths (piers, wharves and boatyards are addressed in Policy SI 15 Water transport ). Waterways infrastructure can directly enable water-based recreation and sports including rowing, canoeing and sailing. New water sports centres may bring such activities together, and development proposals should consider the affordability of these activities for Londoners. Waterways infrastructure can also facilitate the enjoyment of wildlife, landscapes, heritage and culture. There could be particular scope for new infrastructure within specific Opportunity Areas. 9.16.2 Moorings, moored boats, and continuous cruiser boats, as well as live-aboard boat dwellers are an integral part of the character of the waterways. There has been a significant increase in the number of boats on London’s canals (from 2,000 sighted in 2010 to 5,000 in 2016), with a notable increase in central and eastern parts of London’s network. There is a deficit of short-stay and long-term moorings and required facilities (such as power, water and waste disposal) to meet this increase in demand, including for residential, leisure, visitor and commercial uses. 9.16.3 The Canal and River Trust has produced a London Mooring Strategy which provides an overview of the number of people living on boats on the canal network and identifies zones for potential additional moorings . Some community-based projects to create residential moorings may be considered as community-led housing (Part A4 of Policy H2 Small sites ). In addition, a number of creative businesses such as artists’ studios and post-production facilities are located on boats. Development proposals for residential moorings in particular should consider innovative solutions to address site-specific conditions, including wash, to enable the creation of new appropriate moorings without detrimentally impacting on navigation. 9.16.4 Historic steps and slipways to the Thames foreshore are vital for enabling access to/from activities and events. The Thames Path and the towpaths are particularly important in terms of providing safe access for a large number of Londoners along the waterways, facilitating their enjoyment of the river as well as providing health and wellbeing benefits as walking routes. Development proposals provide a significant opportunity to improve and expand the Thames Path and the towpaths, and to develop better linkages to the transport network. This requires prioritisation and collaboration between local, strategic and institutional partners. Borough River Strategies and Thames Strategies should support these opportunities. 9.16.5 Complementing development proposals for cultural facilities and events, the Mayor is producing, in partnership with the Port of London Authority, a case for a Cultural Vision for the River Thames . It aims to increase Londoners’ engagement with the River for culture and leisure purposes, including night-time use and focusing on under-used areas. It also provides information on the heritage and importance of the River Thames and its banks to London’s cultural life, especially in Opportunity Areas. 9.16.6 London’s waterways are often an appropriate setting for public art and performance. People generally like to gather by the waterside and opportunities for this should be encouraged. The waterways are also a valuable educational resource with orLondon Plan Policy SI 16 · official source →