The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy directs development to areas of lowest flood risk and requires that it does not increase flood risk elsewhere, allowing for climate change over the development's lifetime. Proposals must take a sequential approach to choosing and laying out sites, considering flooding from rivers, surface water, groundwater and sewers, informed by the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Flood management must be built in from the earliest design stages, and a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment is required, with hydraulic modelling where existing flood information is inadequate.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
3.4 Water Infrastructure
Policies within this section contribute to achieving the following Strategic
Objectives:
SO1. Providing infrastructure in the right place at the right time
SO4. Making effective use of land and natural resources
SO10. Protecting and enhancing our environmental assets and working towards
environmental net gain
3.4.1 Water is a vital resource that supports not just humans but various habitats and
ecosystems, and ensuring it is properly managed, particularly in light of climate change
is integral to the creation of sustainable places. This section includes policies ensuring
future developments reduce flood risk, and are located in appropriate locations;
policies outlining the measures to be incorporated into new development to ensure that
water is used efficiently, supporting our efforts to adapt to climate changes; and
policies ensuring that developments are accompanied by the relevant and necessary
water infrastructure.
Policy ID.9
Reducing Flood Risk
A. Reducing Flood Risk
Development proposals should be prioritised to areas of lowest flood risk and must
not increase flood risk elsewhere, taking account of climate change over the lifetime
of the development. Proposals must:
1. apply a sequential approach to site selection, layout and design, considering
flood risk from all sources, including fluvial, surface water, groundwater and
sewer flooding, informed by the latest Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA),
national and local flood risk mapping, and available historic flood information;
2. demonstrate, through proportionate evidence, that flood risk will be managed
safely within the site and will not increase flood risk to surrounding or
downstream areas; and
3. incorporate flood risk management measures from the earliest stages of site
design.
B. Flood Risk Assessment
A site-specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) will be required for development, in
accordance with national policy and guidance. Where the development includes
existing watercourses, the risk of river flooding must be fully appraised. Where
existing flood risk information or modelling is absent or of insufficient quality,
proportionate hydraulic modelling may be required to fully assess flood risk.