As part of the ongoing Save Our Chalk Streams campaign, we are urging the Government to honour the previous commitments to enhancing the protections for Chalk Streams by officially designating these rare rivers as irreplaceable habitats within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 

Why Chalk Streams are Global Jewels 

85% of the world’s chalk streams are found right here in England and a considerable portion of them run through Wiltshire. They are characterised by their crystal-clear, mineral-rich water which is filtered through ancient chalk bedrock. As rare habitats they are home to some of our most iconic and endangered species including Atlantic Salmon, Water Voles and rare flora such as Stream-Water Crowfoot.  

Not just important for wildlife but our waterways are important places for people to feel connected to nature too. These streams and their wildlife are woven into our cultural fabric, serving as the inspiration for classic literature like The Wind in the Willows. 

The Core of the Issue: A Broken Promise 

Despite previous government assurances to provide explicit recognition for chalk streams in national policy, the current draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) falls short. In its current state, the framework treats chalk streams as merely something to identify rather than a habitat that must be actively protected from the impacts of development. The open letter was signed by 18 environmental NGOs and over 5400 people responded to the NPPF consultation to call for irreplaceable habitat status for chalk streams. 

Chalk streams meet every requirement for irreplaceable' status. They are unique, rare habitats, and technically impossible to recreate once damaged. To treat them as anything less in our planning system is a negligent and puts them at risk.   

A Habitat Under Siege 

The statistics regarding the health of our rivers are staggering: 

• Only 17% of chalk stream waterbodies achieve good ecological status.
• Zero chalk streams in England are considered in good overall health.
• 40% were subjected to more than 10 hours of storm overflows in 2025.
• Over a third are significantly impacted by water abstraction, which drains the very lifeblood of these systems to supply our homes. 

What are we asking the Government for? 

The coalition of Wildlife Trusts, including ourselves, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Hertfordshire and Middlesex, London, Norfolk, and others, are calling for a two-pronged approach to recovery: 

1. NPPF Reform: Granting irreplaceable habitat status to chalk streams to provide clear guidance for developers and planners.
2. The Water Reform Bill: Ensuring the forthcoming bill includes specific provisions for chalk stream areas, including limits on development and abstraction in areas where these rivers are struggling. 

This is a critical point in time for our rivers. With the Water Reform Bill on the horizon, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save these jewels of the natural world. 

To read the full open letter and see the list of signatories see here. It is expected that the Government will publish the revised National Planning Policy Framework in July.