Consultation on Article 4 Direction at Seething Wells Filter Beds

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Kingston Council is using its planning powers to protect Seething Wells Filter Beds in Surbiton from potential harm to local biodiversity. The site, which is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), represents a unique habitat within the borough. The site is of particular importance to wintering wildfowl and bat populations.

A mechanism called an Article 4 Direction has been introduced which temporarily removes the ability to erect fencing, gates and other means of enclosure on the site without planning permission. This is a specific and targeted Article 4 Direction which has been introduced in response to an application to confirm if the erection of fencing at Seething Wells Filter Beds is permitted development.

The Council must decide within six months whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent.

Let us know your views

A public consultation is taking place for a period of six weeks from Thursday 5th November 2020 and ending at 5pm on Friday 18th December 2020. The consultation documents are available to download from the Documents section of this webpage.

Representations to the consultation can be made by:

  • Completing the consultation response form at the bottom of this webpage

  • Email to: localplan@kingston.gov.uk

  • Post: Strategic Planning, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU


Next steps

After the consultation has ended we will review all the representations received. We will then prepare a report with our recommendation on whether the Article 4 Direction should be made permanent to the Council’s Culture, Housing, Environment and Planning Committee (CHEP). A decision will be made by the end of April 2021.



If you require any of these documents or forms in a more accessible format, please contact localplan@kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5000.

Kingston Council is using its planning powers to protect Seething Wells Filter Beds in Surbiton from potential harm to local biodiversity. The site, which is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), represents a unique habitat within the borough. The site is of particular importance to wintering wildfowl and bat populations.

A mechanism called an Article 4 Direction has been introduced which temporarily removes the ability to erect fencing, gates and other means of enclosure on the site without planning permission. This is a specific and targeted Article 4 Direction which has been introduced in response to an application to confirm if the erection of fencing at Seething Wells Filter Beds is permitted development.

The Council must decide within six months whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent.

Let us know your views

A public consultation is taking place for a period of six weeks from Thursday 5th November 2020 and ending at 5pm on Friday 18th December 2020. The consultation documents are available to download from the Documents section of this webpage.

Representations to the consultation can be made by:

  • Completing the consultation response form at the bottom of this webpage

  • Email to: localplan@kingston.gov.uk

  • Post: Strategic Planning, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU


Next steps

After the consultation has ended we will review all the representations received. We will then prepare a report with our recommendation on whether the Article 4 Direction should be made permanent to the Council’s Culture, Housing, Environment and Planning Committee (CHEP). A decision will be made by the end of April 2021.



If you require any of these documents or forms in a more accessible format, please contact localplan@kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5000.