The Bure Planning Group is based on the Environment Agency Bure catchment, one of four operational catchments in the Broadland management catchment. The main settlements in the area are Wroxham, Stalham, Aylsham and North Walsham and land-use is dominated by agriculture, with widespread arable cropping in the upland areas giving way to marsh grazing in the Broads. Links to the Environment Agency Broadland Abstraction Licence Strategy (ALS) and the Bure Catchment Data Explorer page are here:
https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/OperationalCatchment/3054
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a821229ed915d74e3401912/ALS_2017_Broadland.pdf
The Bure catchment is underlain by a complex sequence of superficial sediments mainly comprising till with glacial sands and gravels on the higher ground and alluvium with peat in the valley bottoms. In the middle to upper parts of the catchment, Crag and Chalk are exposed in the valley bottoms and sides. Members in this Planning Group mainly abstract surface water from rivers and streams or groundwater from the Crag and the Chalk.
Within the Bure catchment, the Environment Agency has previously investigated abstraction at Catfield Fen and other areas close to the Ant Broads and Marshes, removing licences to meet Habitats Directive targets in respect of the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protections Area (SPAs) which form the Broads European sites. These investigations continue, with further licence reductions due to be implemented in October 2028. A link to the Environment Agency Broads Plan is here:
https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/the-broads-sustainable-abstraction-plan
The Bure catchment also contains Norfolk valley fen Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which are SACs and SPAs. The condition of these is currently being assessed, with the need for licence changes to meet Habitats Regulation requirements being considered. All remaining abstractions in the catchments will be reviewed as part of the Environment Agency Catchment Permit Review process expected to be completed between 2028 & 2035.
From the National Framework for Water Resources (2025) a small number of waterbodies in the Bure catchment are at risk of significant licence reductions under current conditions. Over the period to 2050 and 2080 this risk increases, with large reductions possible in most of the Bure waterbodies.
National Framework for Water Resources 2025: Risk of licence reductions by waterbody for the Bure Planning Group (see also NF2025 Licence Reductions.docx)
A link to the National Framework for Water Resources 2025 data is here:
https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/4347271e-4867-4c5a-a2ae-d4830b3eeb03
