• Working with natural processes and adopting a natural flood management approach to slow the speed of water drainage and intercept water pollutants;
  • Locating and designing development so as to minimise the impacts of current and future flood risk, including retrofitting or relocating existing developments, infrastructure and places to increase resilience to flooding ensuring they are safe for their lifetime;
  • Managing surface water runoff through sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), prioritising nature-based and above-ground green solutions and ensuring management as close to source as possible; and
  • Adopting a phased approach to major development. Where parts of such sites are at risk from flooding, flood storage measures must be in place before the site is developed and a detailed surface water strategy to avoid piecemeal infrastructure provision must be provided.
  • Applicants must assess flood risk from their development proposals, using the most up to date Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and any other available evidence to minimise risks of flooding by steering development to areas with the lowest risk of flooding.
  • A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA), considering all potential sources of flooding and proportionate to the scale and vulnerability of the development, must be provided for all proposed developments in Flood Zones 2 and 3. Flood Risk Assessments must be prepared in full accordance with the Environment Agency's standing advice117). Additionally, an FRA will be required for proposed developments in Flood Zone 1 that are:
  • All Flood Risk Assessments must incorporate climate change allowances in accordance with the latest Environment Agency guidance. Developments with a design life exceeding 100 years should apply the upper-end allowance to ensure long-term resilience.
  • over 0.5 hectares;
  • at risk from other sources of flooding (as identified in Environment Agency and/or in the SFRA or in updated information provided by a flood risk management agency); or
  • likely to increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.

117 See www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessment-for-planning-applications