Form

How to fill in the River Thames accommodation licence application form

Published 31 January 2020

How to complete the form

Section 1: About you

Please tell us about you and how you we can contact you.

If the application is for an organisation (such as a company, residents’ association, charity, school or club), please state the name of the contact in Section 1.1 and the name of the organisation in Section 1.2.

Section 2: About your structure

2.1 Frontage address

If the structure is or will be located at your contact address, please leave this section blank. Otherwise, please state the postal address of the site where the structure is or will be located. If the site has no postal address, please state the national grid reference.

2.2 Land ownership

Accommodation licences can only be granted to the lawful owner or occupier of the land where the structure is or will be located. Please state whether you own or occupy of the land by ticking the appropriate box.

We require written evidence of your lawful ownership or occupancy. You could provide a copy of your title deeds or tenancy agreement. If you do not have copies of your title deed or tenancy agreement and are not sure what evidence to provide, please contact us.

2.3 Use of the structure

The fees you will pay depend on how your structure will be used. For more information, refer to the section Fees and payment.

If you will use the structure only to moor your own boat, please tick the first box. If your application is successful, you will be issued a private licence.

If you are applying on behalf of an organisation or you want to charge others to use your structure, please tick the second box. If your application is successful, you will be issued a corporate licence.

If you are applying on behalf of a non-profit organisation, please also tick the third box. If your application is successful, this may result in a reduction in your annual fee.

2.4 New or existing structure

You only need to fill in either Section 3 or Section 4, not both. Please tick the appropriate box and complete the relevant section.

Section 3: Install a new structure or change an existing structure

If you have an existing structure that you do not want to change, go to Section 4 and do not complete Section 3.

3.1 Environmental permit

You must check if you need an environmental permit before installing a new structure or changing an existing structure. If it is assessed that you do not need an environmental permit, please provide evidence of this in Section 3.1.

If you have applied for an environmental permit, please provide the reference number (EPR/ followed by a combination of 8 letters and numbers, such as EPR/AB1234CD). The River Thames accommodation licensing team will contact the environmental permitting team and use the plans submitted in that application.

We will not issue an accommodation licence if the environmental permit is refused.

The environmental permitting team will usually inform the accommodation licensing team when a permit is granted, but it can speed up your application if you tell the accommodation licensing team when you receive your permit.

You must not start work until you receive both an environmental permit and an accommodation licence.

3.2 Plans of the works

If you have provided an environmental permit reference number in Section 3.1, we will use the plans you have submitted in that application so you can go to Section 3.3 and do not need to include plans.

If you have not provided an environmental permit reference, you need to enclose plans as described in Section 3.2 of the application. For more information on the plans you should submit, please refer to the section Submit plans of the structure.

3.3 Declaration

By completing the declaration and signing the application form, you apply for a licence. If your application is successful, you will be responsible for paying the fees for the licence as described in the current tariffs. Failure to pay the fees may result in your licence being revoked.

You also agree that, if your application is successful, you will install and maintain the structure as per the plans provided. If your structure does not match the plans when the works are complete, your licence may not be valid and you may be required to remove or change the structure.

Section 4: Keep an existing structure

If you want to install a new structure or change an existing structure, check that you have completed Section 3 and do not complete Section 4.

4.1 Plans of the works

For more information on the plans you should submit, please refer to the section Submit plans of the structure.

4.2 Declaration

By completing the declaration and signing the application form, you apply for a licence. If your application is successful, you will be responsible for paying the fees for the licence as described in the current tariffs. Failure to pay the fees may result in your licence being revoked.

If your application is successful, the annual fees will apply from the date of your application.

You also agree that, if your application is successful, you will maintain the structure as per the plans provided. If your structure does not match the plans, your licence may not be valid and you may be required to remove or change the structure.

If your structure is not sound, any licence you are issued may not be valid and you may be required to repair or remove the structure.

Section 5: Signature

Applications must be signed by the lawful owner or occupier of the land where the structure is or will be located. Agents, consultants or contractors may not sign on behalf of owners or occupiers.

By signing, you are agreeing to the declaration you completed in Section 3 or Section 4. You are also agreeing for the Environment Agency to use your personal information as described in the data protection notice in Section 6 of the application form. Your application cannot be processed unless it has been signed and dated.

If the application is for an organisation (such as a company, residents’ association, charity, school or club), the person signing the form must be authorised by the organisation to sign on its behalf. Please state your role within the organisation so that this can be checked if necessary. Please also check that the organisation’s name is stated in Section 1.

Section 6: Data protection notice

If you have any questions about the data protection notice or the way the Environment Agency uses your data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer.

Section 7: Checklist

Please tick to show that you have included the correct accompanying documents. You should also check that you have completed all required sections of the form. Applications may be considered incomplete if:

• information is missing from the form
• the accompanying documents are not included
• the accompanying plans are not detailed enough

You will be informed if any additional information is needed. Incomplete applications will not be processed until any requested information is received.

Submit plans of the structure

You need to submit at least 2 plans with your application.

The first must show the location and position of the structure or proposed structure. This should help us to find the where the structure is or will be.

You can use Ordnance Survey maps or a free online map. Please clearly mark the position of the structure or proposed structure.

If the site is in a rural area, you should use a large scale or zoom that shows landmarks to help us find the site. If the site is in an area with a lot of houses, it would be better to use a small scale or zoom so that it is clear which property is marked.

The second plan must show the dimensions and design of the structure or proposed structure. This does not need to be drawn to scale. It must include:

• the extent of the river frontage that you own or occupy
• the riverbank, marked with hatched lines
• the direction of the river’s flow, marked by an arrow
• the public towpath (if appropriate)
• the position of the structure, including bankworks, measured from a fixed reference point such as the boundary line
• the dimensions of the accommodation structure (length, breadth and height)
• the materials used in construction

The fees for most structures are calculated based on the size or position of the structure. If not enough detail is included for the fee to be calculated, your application will be considered incomplete and we will contact you for further information.

Example of a plan showing the dimensions and design of a structure.

Return the form or contact us

When complete, please return the application form by post or email. You can also contact us if you need help completing this application.

Post:

River Thames Accommodation Licensing Team
Kings Meadow House
Kings Meadow Road
Reading
RG1 8DQ

Email: ThamesAccoms@environment-agency.gov.uk

Phone: 03708 506 506

Find out about call charges.

Please note that the office does not operate a public enquiries counter and should be used for postal purposes only.

Fees and payment

There is an administration fee for existing structures and an annual fee charged for many accommodation licences.

Please do not send payment with your application. If a licence is granted you will be sent an invoice for the administration fee and the first annual payment as appropriate.

The annual fee will be pro rata for the first year and then due on 29 September each year. The current tariffs are available online. You should note that the fees are reviewed annually.

What happens next

The River Thames accommodation licensing team will acknowledge your application when we receive it. We will check whether the application is complete and request any additional information. What happens when we have received the complete application can be different for different applications, so we will tell you what will happen next.

To help us assess your application, an Environment Agency officer may need to visit the site. You will be informed if this is needed, but we are usually not able to give notice of the date. This can speed up the process of reaching a decision on your application.

The officer may need to gain access to the site from the land or from the river. Officers have warrants that authorise them to enter land. They all carry a warrant card which will identify them and must show these cards on request.

If your application is refused, we will explain why it has not been successful. Where appropriate, we will make recommendations for adjustments to your application and you may reapply.

If your application is successful, we will issue your licence. You should retain this for your records. If you are applying to build a new structure or change an existing structure, you must not start work until you receive your licence.

With your licence, you will receive a letter explaining any charges. You will usually receive the invoice within 3 weeks of receiving your licence. For some structures, we will also send you a licence plate. You will usually receive this within 16 weeks of the licence. You must display it on the structure.