{"id":2797,"date":"2023-01-03T17:28:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T17:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/?page_id=2797"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:22:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T14:22:42","slug":"nfm-guidance-for-land-drainage-consent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/land-drainage-consent\/nfm-guidance-for-land-drainage-consent\/","title":{"rendered":"NFM guidance for land drainage consent"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Summary of requirements<\/h2>\n<p>The following works require ordinary watercourse consent from the Lead Local Flood Authority (Devon County Council) under Section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><em>a) erect any mill dam, weir or other like obstruction to the flow of any ordinary watercourse or raise or otherwise alter any such obstruction; or<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>b) erect a culvert in an ordinary watercourse, or<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>c) alter a culvert in a manner that would be likely to affect the flow of an ordinary watercourse.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>What requires consent?<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\">Any Natural Flood Management (NFM) works that take place <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\">within the channel of<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\"> an ordinary watercourse<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\">, including <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\">certain works <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW246025449 BCX8\">to the banks. Examples of NFM works requiring consent are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Leaky dams<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ditch blocking<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Online attenuation storage ponds (directly controlling the flow of an ordinary watercourse)<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Floodplain reconnection<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any works that divert or restrict\/control flow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2806 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-flow-spreader-photo-300x227.png\" alt=\"Photograph of a log laid over a small stream, acting as a flow spreader.\" width=\"320\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-flow-spreader-photo-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-flow-spreader-photo.png 556w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2807 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-In-ditch-hazel-leaky-dam-300x228.png\" alt=\"Photograph of an in-ditch leaky dam constructed using Hazel and secured in place using wooden stakes.\" width=\"320\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-In-ditch-hazel-leaky-dam-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2022\/10\/FWAG-In-ditch-hazel-leaky-dam.png 425w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/p>\n\n<p><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW68029710 BCX8\">If you are unsure whether the works require consent, please contact us with a plan of the works<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW68029710 BCX8\">:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:floodrisk@devon.gov.uk\">floodrisk@devon.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Things to consider when applying for Land Drainage Consent<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have landowner permission?<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have the agreement of any adjacent landowners? <span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Is a dry working area required? Does the water need to be over pumped or flumed?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Is there downstream dependence on the water and flows?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pollution control measures (for example, a straw bale downstream to trap any disturbed sediment)<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When will work take place?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How long will works last (a day or weeks etc.)?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any environmental\/wildlife\/fisheries assessments required?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> Please visit Devon County Council&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/environment\/wildlife\/wildlife-and-geology-planning-guidance\">Wildlife and Geology<\/a> website for further guidance.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any cultural\/archaeological\/landscape assessments required?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> Please visit Devon County Council&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.devon.gov.uk%2Fhistoricenvironment%2Fdevelopment-management%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CFreya.Money%40devon.gov.uk%7Ccd2b6874f3894de7ffb408daed98ff70%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C638083538623444077%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=O5PZM4w%2BjwDUNIoGTmKEEbgz3zosqL7RfQF%2Ff3zxeDc%3D&amp;reserved=0\">Historic Environment<\/a> website for further guidance.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Is planning permission required for large groundworks?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> Contact your local planning authority for guidance.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Who will be responsible for maintenance of the structures?<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Are there any structures immediately downstream which could become blocked if the NFM measures become dislodged? A 10m (or 30 times channel width) buffer zone is recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Fisheries<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In order to avoid fish spawning times, any temporary or permanent works being undertaken within ordinary watercourses must avoid the period 1st October \u2013 31st May (inclusive). A fisheries habitat assessment must be provided and approved by the Environment Agency for any works proposed to be carried out within the fish spawning period.<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">All works to permanently wet ordinary watercourses should maintain base flow to allow for fish passage. For applications that do not provide provision for fish passage, the Environment Agency fisheries team will be consulted.<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0Documents to submit<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Overview and location plan.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Photographs of the ordinary watercourse\/ditch.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Design\/Drawing of the works \u2013 including cross sections<span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (can use standard cross section drawings, where appropriate)<span data-contrast=\"auto\">, how materials will be secured in place, distance between structures.<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Method Statement &#8211; This should include a step-by-step process of how the works will be undertaken, detailing how the water will be managed during the construction work (i.e. over pumped, sandbags etc.), and suitable pollution control measures (i.e. straw bales).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Useful links<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/natural-flood-management\/\">DCC Natural Flood Management Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ciria.org\/CIRIA\/CIRIA\/Item_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=C802F&amp;Category=FREEPUBS\" rel=\"noopener\">CIRIA NFM manual<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sepa.org.uk\/media\/163560\/sepa-natural-flood-management-handbook1.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">SEPA NFM Handbook<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fwagsw.org.uk\/resources\/\" rel=\"noopener\">FWAG NFM Resource Library<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p>Land Drainage Consent application form &#8211;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:w:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Planning\/ESAETx160mpEu-fe037WNEsB_Wl4lWKs1RhRqojJNz41_A?e=HbAqoP\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the application form<\/a> or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/apply-for-land-drainage-consent\/\">apply online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary of requirements The following works require ordinary watercourse consent from the Lead Local Flood Authority (Devon County Council) under Section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991: a) erect any mill dam, weir or other like obstruction to the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/land-drainage-consent\/nfm-guidance-for-land-drainage-consent\/\" aria-label=\"Continue reading NFM guidance for land drainage consent\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2449,"featured_media":0,"parent":7,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-2797","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-13 07:03:12","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2449"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2797"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3657,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2797\/revisions\/3657"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/floodriskmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}