I have been researching what the newly published Nation Planning Policy Framework(NPPF) has to say about chalk streams. This is of particular interest to me as I am am lucky enough to have lived all my life a short walk away from the River Test.

Chalk streams are amongst our most important natural assets but they are severely threatened by human beings who adopt farming methods that allow run off of pollutants into the water, sewage and waste water discharge incidents from the water companies and now the threat of water extraction, only necessary because we fail to capture and store enough rain water when it does fall.

The latest plan does provide some reassurance about their protection, but not as much as I would have hoped. It identifies chalk streams as requiring special protection from development plans.

It also requires plans to identify opportunities for the conservation, enhancement and recovery of sensitive waterbodies, including through habitat restoration and nature-based solutions, and to consider opportunities at a catchment or landscape scale across plan boundaries.

The new framework introduces more explicit provisions concerning water quality, with specific reference to chalk streams.

The wording does not give chalk streams the same level of statutory protection as, for example, an internationally designated site or SSSI.

The phrase “require particular consideration” is considerably weaker than saying that development must not harm a chalk stream or that development affecting one should be refused unless exceptional circumstances exist.

With huge pressures for more and more development in Hampshire, (particularly housing), I don’t think Government have gone far enough in providing the level of protection these internationally important chalk streams deserve.