The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has published its latest policy advice note on inland waterways with the support of British Waterways.

Unlocking the Potential and Securing the Future of Inland Waterways through the Planning System is to be launched at the Local Government Association’s national conference in Harrogate tomorrow. Its purpose is to provide planning guidelines and highlight development opportunities on and around Britain’s 2200 miles of canals, rivers and docks.

The importance and potential of waterways has not been lost on LDT’s chief executive officer, Jane Friend: “Britain’s inland waterways enjoyed a brief period of glory as part of the industrial revolution before being eclipsed by the railways and, in turn, by roads. Parts of the original network have since been neglected or abandoned and its role has become largely recreational, often relying on the efforts of enthusiastic volunteers to maintain this.

“The planning system can help to revitalise this blue network by taking opportunities to recognise its strategic importance and relevance to current agendas and influencing land use and resource allocations accordingly. These include developing green infrastructure, low carbon transportation and communication routes and water resource management.

“The Landscape Design Trust therefore welcomes this initiative whilst recognising that there will be significant challenges in balancing potential new uses and activities on waterways against their continuing contribution to biodiversity, recreation and the landscape.”