20. Flood Risk Assessment
What is it?
Policy ENV4 of the Plan Strategy requires that planning applications in flood risk areas are accompanied by an assessment of the flood risk in the form of a Flood Risk Assessment.
A Flood Risk Assessment is an assessment of the risk of flooding from all flooding mechanisms, the identification of flood mitigation measures and should provide advice on actions to be taken before and during a flood.
When is it required?
A Flood Risk Assessment should be provided with applications where the following circumstances apply:
- when the proposed development is within fluvial / coastal flood plain / reservoir flood inundation area; or
- where a more accurate definition of the flood plain and its extents is needed.
What should be included?
Guidance on the information that should be contained in a Flood Risk Assessment is provided in Annex E of the Planning and Flood Risk Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Guidance
The applicant will need to have satisfied the “Exceptions” test set out in the Planning and Flood Risk Supplementary Planning Guidance and that this has been confirmed in writing by the Council’s Planning Service. Compliance with the Exceptions test can be discussed with the Planning Service as part of a Pre-Application Discussion (PAD).
Flood Maps can be viewed on the Department for Infrastructure website (link opens in new window).
With regard to potential flood risk from a reservoir, applicants are referred to Technical Guidance Note 25: The Practical Application of Strategic Planning Policy for ‘Development in Proximity to Reservoirs (link opens in new window). The applicant may contact the Department for Infrastructure Reservoirs Authority in respect of determining the status of a reservoir potentially affecting a development site.
