FIVE things you need to know about Flood Risk Assessments

1. The UK government has committed that sustainable drainage or SuDS (Sustainable urban Drainage Systems) will be a part of all major planning applications. From April 6th 2015, Local Planning Authorities are implementing new Planning Guidance which could affect your proposed building development.
2. SuDS (techniques that retain surface water runoff on the land where the rain falls) are regarded as an essential part of any planned development. These techniques reduce the risk of “flash-flooding” which occurs when rainwater rapidly flows into the public sewerage and drainage systems.

3. The new Planning Guidance emphasises that flooding and drainage issues should be considered at the earliest opportunity, to a greater level of detail, and at every stage of the Planning process. Pre-application discussions should include a Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy, a summary document which sets out how the Developer will address the drainage and flood risk of the site.
4. The guidance potentially adds to the Developer‘s speculative costs at the Outline Planning Application Stage by requiring drainage calculations, layout drawings and site geotechnical information, together with evidence of any 3rd party discharge agreements.

5. A full Planning Application requires further extensive detailed design information as well as proposals for long term management and maintenance arrangements.

Email or Phone

The Stilwell Partnership can help you deal with these new requirements for your proposed development. This would identify, at the earliest stage, the risks and costs associated with meeting the Local Planning Authority’s requirements. Contact our offices for a no-obligation discussion about your project.

We promise to deliver:

• A personal contact dedicated to dealing with your project
• Proven experience in finding least cost solutions
• The ability to deliver solutions to a deadline

Testimonial:

"The Stilwell Partnership's solution to the Drainage and Flooding issues at our Reigate development was invaluable. They successfully dealt with the complex objections raised by both the Local Authority and the Environment Agency in a thoroughly professional and efficient manner." Nigel Greenhalgh,
Managing Director,
Village Developments