17 MOORINGS

Local Context

17.1 The Grand Union Canal runs the length of the District and is used by many houseboats and leisure crafts. Concentrations of houseboats exist at Batchworth Lock, Rickmansworth and to a lesser extent at Cassiobury in Croxley Green.

17.2 It is acknowledged that houseboats are a lifestyle choice for some residents and they contribute to increasing diversity of homes within the District. Residents can provide valuable assistance to leisure boat users and aid security along the canal.

17.3 The Core Strategy aims to deliver new development in sustainable locations and so the same principle will be applied to proposals for residential and other moorings. The policy aims to ensure that potential residents of houseboats benefit from the same level of access to services and facilities as those living in traditional housing.

17.4 As moorings are not recognised as appropriate development in the Green Belt by national policy, applications for residential and other moorings outside of the urban areas will have to demonstrate 'very special circumstances'.

DM15 Moorings

a) Proposals for the permanent use of moorings will only be permitted on the canal where adjacent to the existing built-up area and it can be demonstrated that the proposal will:

Not compromise the ability of leisure boat users to access moorings
Have no adverse effect on the nature conservation value of the canal or nearby land
Include sufficient space at the moorings for essential facilities and landscaping
Provide adequate pedestrian and service vehicle access
Cause no harm to the historic or visual character of the canal
Not increase flood risk
Provide safe access and egress during a flood
Not impede navigation.

*Policy Links*
National Policy (others may also be relevant)	National Planning Policy Framework
Related Core Strategy Policies	CP1: Overarching Policy on Sustainable Development CP2: Housing Supply
Core Strategy Strategic Objective	S7

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