In September 2010 the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) released a report on the residential use of waterways,[1] highlighting the recent increase in demand for on water housing and the issues this raises for navigation authorities.
In Defra’s 2000 investigation into the future of Britain’s waterways (Waterways for Tomorrow), residential use of floating vessels or structures was identified as ‘a relatively minor use of our inland navigations’.[2] But since 2000 demand for on water living has increased, particularly in urban locations,[3] partially due to the relative cost of living and a growing perception that houseboats are a sustainable and socially acceptable form of accommodation.
In 2008 British Waterways conducted a survey showing that 18% of the 30,000 privately licensed boats on their network were used as primary residences, meaning that around 5,400 boats are used for residential purposes.[4]
Defra’s assessment of residential boating as a ‘relatively minor use of our inland navigations’ is no longer relevant. People from all walks of life see living on their rivers and canals as a legitimate, affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to the urban property market.
But neither the government’s attitude or the legislative environment has kept pace with this changing reality. The complexity of gaining planning permission for the residential use of moorings, as identified in the AINA report makes it extremely difficult for BW to enforce or formulate policy.
This reflects a lack of legislative recognition for the residential use of houseboats, at local and national levels. Local Authorities, handicapped by out of date legislation, are unable and often unwilling to facilitate the growth of on-water residency.
A cultural bias within BW also makes changes in organisational approach difficult to enforce. They see their core responsibility as the maintenance and preservation of the canal, primarily for leisure use, whilst housing is viewed as the responsibility of Local Authorities and Housing Associations.
But times are changing. BW cannot afford to view itself as an organisation with a single purpose, nor can it afford not to view the waterways as a piece of heritage in need of protection and maintenance. The current and future reductions in grant funding mean that the new organisation will struggle to maintain the waterways at existing levels unless they find radical new sources of revenue and reduce their costs.
Ensuring the financial security of the organisation will require diversification and repurposing aimed at fostering a sense of common ownership and local participation.
Housing can play an integral role in this process, not only in the encouragement of a vibrant and engaged network of waterways communities, but also in the creation of new and significant revenue streams for the new waterways charity.
Partnering with progressive housing associations, experienced in all areas of housing development, could minimise the risk faced when working with communities and planning authorities, whilst limiting the legal, practical and financial responsibility placed on BW through opening up significant routes to finance on a partnership basis.
It will also emphasise the new organisations willingness to innovate in the face of change, embracing the principles of localism on which funding decisions are increasingly being made.
By engaging communities, housing associations and Local Authorities in the identification of sections of canal for residential purposes, the new waterways charity will generate income, provide a social good in line with its charitable status, and contribute to the sustainable development of housing stock.
The new waterways charity should not sacrifice the structural integrity of the waterways network by over stretching its natural capacity. But if it is to maintain its relevance, the new waterways charity must be willing and able to diversify. Where it doesn’t jeopardise the stability of the canal, increasing the numbers living on the water should be seen as a realistic and desirable possibility.
The opportunity to take such a stance is now. The changes to local planning laws mean that projects encouraging sustainable development and community engagement will get an easier ride, whilst the new community rights will potentially give housing providers and residents the chance to take on more responsibility. Conversely increased powers for communities to develop local plans mean that a failure to promote the value of on water living to existing local residents now will mean that such provision is unlikely to make it into local plans reducing future opportunities.
The difficulties identified in the AINA report need not paralyse the development of housing on the waterways network any longer, and the protection of the network need not be compromised.
[1] http://www.aina.org.uk/docs/ResidentialUseWaterwaysSept2010.pdf
[2]http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/countryside/waterways/waterways-for-tomorrow.pdf
[3] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/its-not-a-houseboat-its-a-floating-apartment-579876.html
[4] http://www.aina.org.uk/docs/ResidentialUseWaterwaysSept2010.pdf
