River Sow, Doxey Marshes

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION NOT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL
STATEMENT

Regulation 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Land Drainage Improvement
Works (Amended) Regulations 1999 SI 1999/1783
River Sow, Doxey Marshes, Stafford, Restoration Works
The Environment Agency gives notice that its authorised delivery partner, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, proposes to carry out improvement works on the River Sow and its floodplain, NGR upstream reference SJ 89858 24805 and downstream reference SJ 91500 32390, a distance of 2.6 kilometres. Restoration Works are due to be carried out between 15th June and 30th September 2026, weather permitting and will last for a several weeks.
The project will involve a number of interventions targeted towards improving habitats
and biodiversity, such as:

1. Artificial embankments will be removed adjacent to the River Sow to better connect the river to its floodplain allowing this re-wetting and the river corridor itself will better support aquatic invertebrates and fish through the input of gravels.
2. Scrapes and ditch reprofiling will support the retention of water in pools across the site during drier months.
3. Spoil generated will be input into the lakes to provide shallows for the wading birds.
4. Installation of boardwalk along sections of the public right of way to maintain access.

These interventions have been flood modelled, are subject to an Environment Agency Flood Risk Activities Permit, an Ordinary Watercourse Consent from Stafford Borough Council and the Sow and Penk Internal Drainage Board and consent from Natural England to work within a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The interventions should not change access to the site after completion and do not pose an increased risk to nearby residents or businesses. Additional information about the planned work can be found

https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/stafford-brooks.

The Environment Agency considers that the improvement works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment due to the method and timing of the works and does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of them.
Any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed improvement works should do so, in writing, to the address specified below, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.
Vicki Liu – Catchment Co-ordinator, Environment Agency, Beacon House, University Court Technology Park, Stafford ST18 0GU