Policy information sourced from Brentwood Local Plan
NE09: Flood Risk
New development will be required to avoid areas of flood risk by applying the Sequential and, where necessary, the Exception Tests in accordance with national policy and guidance.
A site specific Flood Risk Assessment must assess all sources of flooding. It should demonstrate how flood risk will be managed over the development’s lifetime, taking climate change into account. A site specific FRA is required, in accordance with national policy guidance, for the following types of development:
- all new development greater than 1 ha in size in Flood Zone 1;
- all development within a Critical Drainage Area;
- all new development (including minor development and change of use) in flood zones 2 and 3;
- new development or a change of use to a more vulnerable class which may be subject to other sources of flooding.
Where proposals satisfy the Sequential and Exception Tests design proposals should ensure that:
- the most vulnerable land uses are located in areas within the site that are at lowest risk of flooding;
- development will be safe for its lifetime taking account of the vulnerability of its users,
- flood risk will not increase elsewhere;
- development would not constrain the natural function of the flood plain, either by impeding flow or reducing storage capacity;
- development is constructed so as to remain operational even at times of flood through resistant and resilient design;
- appropriate mitigation measures are incorporated to address any residual flood risk safely, including safe access and egress for all likely users of the development;
- where necessary incorporate flood resistant and flood resilient design measures such that, in the event of a flood, the development could be quickly brought back into use without significant refurbishment;
- incorporate sustainable drainage systems in line with Policy BE05 Sustainable Drainage, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate;
- where possible, the development will reduce flood risk overall.
- safe access and escape routes are included where appropriate, as part of an agreed Emergency Response Plan, where required.
Where the site is additionally located within a Critical Drainage Area (CDA), development should minimise and mitigate surface water runoff in line with Policy BE05 Sustainable Drainage.
For more information please see the Local Plan