Water Resources Act 1991

109 Structures in, over or under a main river. E+W

(1) No person shall erect any structure in, over or under a watercourse which is part of a main river except with the consent of and in accordance with plans and sections approved by the [F1 Agency].

(2) No person shall, without the consent of the [F1 Agency], carry out any work of alteration or repair on any structure in, over or under a watercourse which is part of a main river if the work is likely to affect the flow of water in the watercourse or to impede any drainage work.

(3) No person shall erect or alter any structure designed to contain or divert the floodwaters of any part of a main river except with the consent of and in accordance with plans and sections approved by the [F1 Agency].

(4) If any person carries out any work in contravention of this section the [F1 Agency] may—

(a) remove, alter, or pull down the work; and

(b) recover from that person the expenses incurred in doing so.

(5) Subsections (1) and (2) above shall not apply to any work carried out in an emergency; but a person carrying out any work excepted from those subsections by this subsection shall inform the [F1 Agency] in writing as soon as practicable—

(a) of the carrying out of the work; and

(b) of the circumstances in which it was carried out.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be taken to affect any enactment requiring the consent of any government department for the erection of a bridge or any powers exercisable by any government department in relation to a bridge.

[F2 (7) Subsections (1) to (3) above shall not apply to any work if—

(a) carrying out the work is a licensable marine activity,

(b) the Agency considers that, in view of the terms and conditions that will be included in the marine licence, the provisions of those subsections may be dispensed with, and

(c) the Agency issues a notice to that effect to the applicant for the marine licence.

(8) In subsection (7) above “licensable marine activity” and “marine licence” have the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 109 substituted (subject to other provisions of the amending Act) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 128 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3 (with art. 4)

F2 S. 109(7)(8) inserted (6.4.2011) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 82(2), 324(3) (with ss. 76-81, 111, Sch. 9 para. 10); S.I. 2011/556, art. 3(2)(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 109 modified (16.3.1992) by London Government Act 1992 (c. iii), s. 32(9)(10)

S. 109 modified (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 52, Sch. 15 Pt. III para. 11

C2 S. 109 amended (16.3.1992) by Aire and Calder Navigation Act 1992 (c. iv), s. 33(12)

C3 S. 109 amended (18.6.1992) by British Railways (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. xi), s. 42(8)

C4 S. 109 amended (16.3.1992) by Midland Metro Act 1992 (c. vii), s. 21(9)

C5 S. 109 excluded (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 42, s. 25(1) (with s. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 9).

C6 S. 109 applied (21.7.1994) by 1994 c. xv, s. 43(11)

C7 S. 109 applied (with modifications) (7.3.1995) by S.I. 1995/519, arts. 3(9), 57-64

C8 S. 109 excluded (2.4.2004) by Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/757), arts. 1, 4(8)(b)

C9 S. 109 excluded (11.2.2005) by Merseytram (Liverpool City Centre to Kirkby) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/120), arts. 1, 5(9) (with arts. 65, 66)

C10 S. 109 modified (22.3.2005) by Midland Metro (Wednesbury to Brierley Hill and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/927), Sch. 11 para. 11 (with art. 51)

C11 S. 109 modified (26.8.2005) by River Tyne (Tunnels) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2222), art. 1, Sch. 10 para. 14 (with arts. 45(1), 48, Sch. 10 paras. 21, 29)

C12 S. 109 excluded (25.11.2005) by Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3105), arts. 1, 5(7)(a) (with arts. 3(5), 15(3))

C13 S. 109 modified (11.1.2006) by The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3523), art. 1, Sch. 11 para. 10 (with art. 52)

C14 S. 109 excluded (22.11.2006) by Docklands Light Railway (Stratford International Extension) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2905), arts. 1, 4(8) (with art. 43)

C15 S. 109 modified (19.3.2007) by Ouseburn Barrage Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/608), art. 1, Sch. 6 para. 18 (with arts. 46-48, Sch. 6 paras. 17(5), 23)

C16 S. 109 excluded (23.8.2007) by Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2297), arts. 1, 5(8)(a) (with arts. 3(6), 12(3))

C17 S. 109 modified (28.9.2007) by London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2657), art. 1, Sch. 3 para. 13(1) (with arts. 19, 28, Sch. 3 para. 13(2))

C18 S. 109 modified (16.5.2008) by London Gateway Port Harbour Empowerment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1261), art. 1, Sch. 10 para. 12(1) (with arts. 41(1), 45, 54(2), 55, 56, 57, 58(6))

C19 S. 109 modified (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 17 para. 11

C20 S. 109 excluded (9.6.2009) by Nottingham Express Transit System Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1300), arts. 1, 5(9) (with Sch. 13 para. 14(2), Sch. 14 para. 19, Sch. 16)

C21 S. 109 modified (20.7.2010) by The Network Rail (Nuneaton North Chord) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1721), art. 1, Sch. 11 para. 12

C22 S. 109 modified (27.8.2010) by The Llangollen and Corwen Railway Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2136), art. 1(1), Sch. 4 para. 12

C23 S. 109 modified (1.9.2010) by The Port of Bristol (Deep Sea Container Terminal) Harbour Revision Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2020), art. 1(2), Sch. 6 para. 11(1) (with arts. 18, 19)

C24 S. 109 modified (1.2.2011) by The River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/41), art. 1, Sch. 10 para. 41(1) (with art. 51, Sch. 10 paras. 6885)