As a developer, you are responsible for mitigating the effects of new developments on flooding. It is essential to follow key flood prevention practices to protect both the environment and the future users of your development. Here’s what you need to do:
Locate vulnerable areas away from flood risk zones
You must ensure that any proposed development is situated away from areas with a high risk of flooding. Use the Environment Agency's flood risk map to assess potential flood risks for your site. This tool provides valuable insight into flood hazards across the UK and is an important resource when planning developments.
Ensure developments are flood-resilient and resistant
Developers are required to design structures that are both flood-resistant and resilient. Flood-resistant properties are built to keep water out, while flood-resilient buildings are designed to recover quickly if water does enter. This can involve using materials and techniques that minimise water damage and ensure a quick recovery. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides detailed guidelines for building flood-resilient developments.
Consider water availability and drainage
You need to ensure that water availability and drainage systems are effectively managed for the lifetime of the development. This includes planning for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to manage surface water and prevent flooding. Proper drainage is crucial not only to reduce flood risk but also to maintain water quality. The SuDS Manual from CIRIA offers guidance on best practices for designing drainage systems.
Conduct a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)
For many developments, a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is a mandatory part of the planning process. An FRA demonstrates how you have accounted for flood risks and what measures you have in place to manage them. The Environment Agency’s guidance on FRAs provides all the necessary details to help you complete this requirement.
Use the interactive flood map for further information
To enhance your understanding of flood risks for a property, use the Environment Agency’s interactive flood map to check the latest data. While this map is a helpful guide, remember that it is not 100% accurate at an individual property level. It’s important to combine the map data with a thorough site assessment.
Additional resources
Flood risk and coastal change guidance
For more comprehensive guidance on how to assess and manage flood risk when developing in coastal or flood-prone areas, consult the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which outlines essential policies for flood mitigation.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Guidance
Implementing SuDS is a key part of reducing flood risk in new developments. CIRIA provides expert resources on SuDS design and implementation in their SuDS Manual, which is widely used by professionals in the UK.