Policy information sourced from the Central Befordshire Local Plan
CC4: Development Close to Watercourses
A site-specific Flood Risk Assessment will be required for any site within 20m of any watercourse (including those not shown on the Environment Agency Flood Maps), or within an area at high risk of surface water flooding.
Development will be supported where:
- It is located in areas at lowest risk of flooding (from all sources) and the Sequential and Exception Tests (where required) demonstrate that the site is appropriate for development and its intended use;
- A sequential approach to site layout is applied, directing the most vulnerable uses to the areas at lowest risk from all sources of flooding;
- It will be safe for the lifetime of the development, will not increase flood risk elsewhere or result in a loss of floodplain storage capacity or impede flowpaths, and reduces the overall flood risk within and beyond the site boundary where possible. Land that is required from current and future flood management will be safeguarded from development;
- A site-specific assessment of flood risk has been undertaken following the criteria within this policy and the NPPF, which sets out appropriate flood risk management measures;
- Climate change implications are taken into account and occupants of the site will be safe during all flood events (including those which exceed the agreed design standard) or from residual risks or failure of the drainage system;
- Development must consider the impacts of the layout and land use on off-site flood risk. Measures should be identified and implemented, including passive measures to improve flood risk off-site;
- Surface water runoff is managed to pre-development rates and volumes, giving priority to the use of SUDS, and discharge locations have capacity to receive all foul and surface water flows from the development;
- The area of impermeable surface is minimised and porous and/or permeable surfaces are used wherever reasonably practicable;
- Mitigation measures maximise water efficiency and contribute to a net gain in water quality, biodiversity, landscape character and green infrastructure; and
- Building level flood avoidance, resilience and resistance measures are designed into the development where appropriate.
Where necessary, planning permission will be conditional upon flood protection and/or runoff control measures being operative before other site works.
Development that increases the risk of flooding on or off the development site, or would compromise the performance of flood defences will not be permitted.
Central Bedfordshire Council will safeguard land required for current and future flood management.
For more information, please visit the Central Befordshire Local Plan