Surface water planning
Contents
Planners and flood risk
Flood risk management basically interacts with spatial planning in two main ways:
- using the planning system to avoid locating unnecessary new development in areas of high flood risk
- mitigating the surface water run-off impacts of new development on downstream areas through planning policies
Specific policy relating to flood and water management in North Northamptonshire is set out in our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. This establishes the responsibilities of local authorities and the developers themselves with regards to flood risk and sets out the co-ordinated approach to the management of all local flood risks in North Northamptonshire.
Local Plans
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) explains how Local Plans should take account of flood risk. A Local Plan should set out the strategic priorities and policies for an area, including those to deliver the infrastructure for flood risk.
We can develop policies which contribute to the active management of flood risk and can include:
- allocating new development outside areas of high flood risk or securing of flood protection measures
- protecting watercourse corridors and green networks
- avoiding new culverting of watercourses
- actively encouraging the de-culverting of watercourses
- requiring sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new developments
- using Section 106 agreements from the Town and Country Planning Act or community infrastructure levy (CIL) to secure suitable surface water drainage arrangements
- encouraging the use of in-built property level resistance and resilience measures
Strategic Flood Risk Assessments
Section 10 of the NPPF and its supporting Technical Guidance, states that Local Plans should be supported by Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRAs). Local Plan policies and allocations for new development should be considered in light of these assessments.
SFRAs consider the risk of flooding from all sources, taking into account climate change and are normally prepared in consultation with the Environment Agency, relevant Water and Sewerage Companies (WASCs) and other relevant flood risk management bodies including Emergency Planning and Drainage teams.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRA's) have been completed for the following areas:
The following assessments are available on request from [email protected].
- Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 Main Report (February 2019)
- Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 Strategic Map Document (February 2019)
- Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 Site Specific Map Document (February 2019)
- Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 Site Specific Map Document Addendum (March 2019)
Level 1 - Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
The following assessments are available on request from [email protected].
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendices 1, 2 and 5 (February 2020)
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 3a, Site assessment
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 3b, Site assessment, map index
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 4a, EA preliminary SFRA review (October 2018)
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 4b, Irthlingborough Flood Zone map (October 2018)
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 4c, Irthlingborough Flood Zone 3b map (October 2018)
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 4d, Conalgen Enterprises SA representation regarding Local Plan Part 2 (December 2018)
- SFRA report Level 1 - Appendix 4e, Correspondence on behalf of Conalgen Enterprises SA (September 2019)
- Annex A – SFRA Level 1 strategic maps
- Map 1 - Study Area and Main Rivers
- Map 2 - Topography
- Map 3a - Bedrock Geology
- Map 3b - Superficial Geology
- Map 4 - Recorded Flood Incidents
- Map 5 - Flood Alert and Warning Areas
- Map 6 - Flood Map for Planning
- Map 7 - Flood Zones 3a and 3b
- Map 8 - Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
- Map 9 - Risk of Flooding from Surface Water
- Map 10 - Risk of Flooding from Ground Water
- Map 11 - Risk of Flooding from Reservoirs
- Annex B – SFRA Level 1 site maps
Level 2 - Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
The following assessments are available on request from [email protected].
- Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Final Report (2019)
- Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Site Specific Maps (2019)
- Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Strategic Maps (2019)
- Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: Level 2 - Duck End, Cranford (November 2019)
Development management and control
We must take the probability of flooding from all sources and the risks involved into account when determining planning applications, so we:
- publicise the benefits of our pre-application service
- screen all planning applications at the validation stage for flood risk from all sources – river, groundwater and surface water flood risk
- ensure that all relevant information sources have been utilised by the applicants (including the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Environment Agency and all relevant Water and Sewerage Companies been contacted for site specific information where needed)
- ensure that the sequential and exception tests have been applied correctly
- ensure that an appropriate Flood Risk Assessment has been submitted, which demonstrates that the development will be safe for the lifetime of the development, has safe access and egress in times of flood, will not increase flood risk elsewhere and will deliver clear opportunities
Neighbourhood Plans
Communities can also ensure that new development adequately plans for flood risk. Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community.
Last updated 29 August 2023