Environmental considerations

One of our project objectives is to protect and enhance the natural landscape and environment. The River Thames corridor provides a valuable landscape rich in flora, fauna, recreational opportunities and historically important areas. Environmental studies will be completed as the project moves along to ensure the proposed options have minimal impact to special sites.

Map of environmental considerations in the Datchet to Hythe End study area. This includes showing rivers, monuments, ecology, protected sites and priority habitats.


Photograph of a river with heavily vegetated banks, which create habitat and greater biodiversity.


Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a legal requirement that creates and improves natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared with what was there before development. The Council has a BNG target of 10%. We are aiming to achieve this target with whichever option is proposed by protecting and enhancing key wildlife habitats wherever possible. This could be done by:

• Planting trees and hedges

Establishing wet grasslands and ponds

• Creating backwaters to support a range of species including young fish, toads and dragonflies

• Marginal planting

• Removing sheet piling and naturalising riverbanks



Find out more about the scheme:

One of our project objectives is to protect and enhance the natural landscape and environment. The River Thames corridor provides a valuable landscape rich in flora, fauna, recreational opportunities and historically important areas. Environmental studies will be completed as the project moves along to ensure the proposed options have minimal impact to special sites.

Map of environmental considerations in the Datchet to Hythe End study area. This includes showing rivers, monuments, ecology, protected sites and priority habitats.


Photograph of a river with heavily vegetated banks, which create habitat and greater biodiversity.


Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a legal requirement that creates and improves natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared with what was there before development. The Council has a BNG target of 10%. We are aiming to achieve this target with whichever option is proposed by protecting and enhancing key wildlife habitats wherever possible. This could be done by:

• Planting trees and hedges

Establishing wet grasslands and ponds

• Creating backwaters to support a range of species including young fish, toads and dragonflies

• Marginal planting

• Removing sheet piling and naturalising riverbanks



Find out more about the scheme:

Page last updated: 10 Oct 2024, 03:43 PM