£1.7 million programme launched to restore River Misbourne in Bucks
The five-year plan is set to tackle sewage pollution, upgrade treatment works, river restoration, and reduce water abstraction
A £1.7 million programme has been announced to help restore the River Misbourne, one of the Chilterns’ rare chalk streams, following years of decline.
The Chilterns Chalk Streams Project (CCSP), hosted by the Chilterns National Landscape, has secured £1 million from the HS2 Additional Projects Fund, alongside £700,000 in match funding from partners including the Environment Agency and two water companies.
Thames Water has also announced £2.5 million for work on the sewer system.
The initiative, called Mending the Misbourne, will run for five years and aims to improve the river’s health, enhance its catchment, and reconnect local communities with the habitat.
Allen Beechey, Project Manager for the CCSP, said: “We are very excited to have secured this funding for Mending the Misbourne.
“For the last five years we have worked on a similar project in the Chess Valley that, through significant investment from partners, has had a massive beneficial impact on that river and its catchment.
“We are looking forward to working with local stakeholders to replicate this approach for the Misbourne and reverse the fortunes of this special chalk stream.”
The catchment plan for the Misbourne was developed in 2024 following calls from the local community to do improve the state of the river.
Local concerns included sewage pollution from Thames Water infrastructure, which has caused flooding in Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles and parts of the valley.
CCSP responded by bringing together community groups, conservation charities, councils, water companies and the Environment Agency in a series of workshops to identify problems, prioritise actions, and create an evidence-based plan.
The plan identified six “transformational projects,” with tackling sewage pollution and sealing the sewage system as top priorities. This includes addressing “groundwater ingress into the sewage network,” which can overload the system and cause overflows, and pushing for upgrades to Gerrards Cross sewage treatment works.
Other priorities include river restoration at multiple sites, reducing water abstraction—supported by plans from Affinity Water—and improving the wider catchment landscape to prevent pollutants from reaching the river.
Mr Beechey stressed the importance of chalk streams, of which about 85% worldwide are found in the country. Their mineral-rich waters, stable year-round temperature, and biodiversity make them highly productive systems that need better protection.
The partnership with HS2, who are providing funding for the project, is not for mitigating damage from construction but rather to boost the health of the local environment.
Mr Beechey said: “This is about funding projects to deliver additional gain within the Misbourne corridor.”
Dr Elaine King, CEO of the Chilterns National Landscape, described the Misbourne as “one of the jewels in the Chilterns crown” and said the project “will be a gamechanger following years of decline.”
Bob Older, coordinator of Misbourne River Action, said: “We are delighted by this announcement and look forward to continuing to work alongside CCSP and other partners in developing and implementing projects to secure these vital improvements to the River Misbourne and its catchment area, building on the excellent work in the Chess Valley.”