Consent for work on ordinary watercourses

Norfolk County Council is responsible for consenting on works that affect the flow of an ordinary watercourse under the terms of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Land Drainage Act 1991 and Water Resources Act 1991. An ordinary watercourse refers to all channels conveying water which are not designated 'main rivers'.

In line with good practice, the Council seeks to avoid culverting, and its consent for such works will not normally be granted except as a means of access.

Who do I need to apply to for consent to alter my watercourse?

If your watercourse is part of a main river then you will need to apply for consent to the Environment Agency and not Norfolk County Council.

If your watercourse falls within an Internal Drainage District then you will need to apply to the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) responsible for that area and not Norfolk County Council. Find your local IDB.

To check who is the responsible organisation for consenting works on ordinary watercourses follow these links:

If your watercourse is not part of a main river, or within an IDB area then you will need to apply to us for consent. Download our consent application form (Word doc, 114 KB) and guidance (PDF, 136 KB). Our Ordinary Watercourse Consent Protocol (PDF, 457 KB) provides more information.

How much does it costs to get consent?

Once an application has been submitted the application fee cannot be refunded, so contact us before you send in your application and we will help you check that you are sending the right amount for the consent.

There is a charge of £50 for each structure associated with the application.

How long does it take to get consent?

You will receive a written decision within eight weeks from the date of receipt of both the application and payment. Failure to provide all relevant information will result in an automatic refusal by the seventh week. You will then have to submit a new application.

Can consent be refused?

There are many reasons why an application could be refused. Two of the most common reasons for refusal are insufficient information within the application form to determine whether the consent can be issued and where it is deemed that a watercourse's flow could be obstructed.

Read the guidance (PDF, 136 KB) notes and make sure you provide enough detail. If you are not sure, contact us before you send in the application.

Who can I contact to get advice from before making an application for consent?

We recommend that applicants review our Ordinary Watercourse Protocol and guidance document before submitting a consent application.

Bespoke LLFA advice is offered on a chargeable basis at the rates outlined in the table below. If you are interested in applying for pre-application advice please email [email protected]. Please read our terms and conditions.

Activity costs

Confirmation of Fee for Land Drainage Application

There is a £50 fee per structure for submitting a land drainage consent application regardless of structure type.

Charges for advice ahead of submitting an application

Signposting to Existing Information

Applicants seeking links to or copies of existing guidance for example the Ordinary Watercourse Protocol will not incur any charges, regardless of the structure type. Please note this excludes bespoke advice.

Teams Meeting and Written Response

Applicants may request a maximum 1-hour Teams meeting along with a written response, limited to one enquiry per applicant.

For structures on the "simple or beneficial structures list": No cost
For all other structures: £144

These rates apply to applications involving a maximum of three structures. If an application includes multiple structures, the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) reserves the right to charge an additional fee for the written response.

Site Visit and Written Response

Applicants may request a maximum 1-hour site visit and a written response, also limited to one enquiry per applicant.

For structures on the "simple or beneficial structures list": No cost
For all other structures: £288

Additional Work

Any additional work will be charged at £96 per officer per hour, regardless of the structure type.

Simple or beneficial structures list

A single culvert or crossing less than 6m in length and greater than 600mm diameter for access.
Norfolk County Council funded projects
Small scale natural flood management schemes for the intention of improving flood risk. This must be for improvement over the existing situation and does not include measures to offset the impact of development or other works. Measures under this heading include:
- Leaky dams made of natural materials
- Re-meandering of watercourses
- Storage and Floodplain reconnection
- River Channel Restoration

To qualify these projects must not be in areas where they may increase flood risk and the LLFA reserve the right to charge if this is unclear.

For further information please email [email protected] or contact the Customer Service Centre. Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.