Policy information sourced from the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1

EQ3 - FLOOD RISK AND SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT

Our approach

We will ensure that flood risk is reduced by ensuring that developments are located appropriately and incorporate any necessary flood resistance and resilience measures. In addition, surface water will be managed through an increased emphasis on sustainable drainage.

We will achieve this by

  • Using the sequential and exceptions tests to inform planning decisions in flood risk areas to ensure inappropriate development is avoided;
  • Promoting improved surface water drainage across the borough, by working with partners to identify, manage and reduce the risk of surface water flooding;
  • Promoting the opening up of river corridors and making space for water through the creation of buffer zones to water courses and increasing floodplain connectivity;
  • Working with partners to ensure the provision and maintenance of flood defences, in line with the Infrastructure Delivery Plan;
  • Encouraging the take-up of opportunities to improve flood resistance and resilience in the borough’s existing built environment, including drainage improvements, flood guards and raising electrical sockets and other vulnerable fittings; and
  • Working with the Environment Agency to implement actions of the Thames Estuary 2100 plan.

We will expect development proposals to

  • Prepare flood risk assessments, consistent with the requirements of the Environment Agency and the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, and apply the sequential approach within site boundaries to ensure flood risk is further decreased;
  • Incorporate necessary flood resistance and resilience measures, including ensuring that adequate flood defences are in place and maintained through the lifetime of the development;
  • Incorporate sustainable drainage systems and avoid non-permeable hard standings with the aim of achieving greenfield runoff rates and being consistent with the Surface Water Management Plan; and
  • Where adjacent to the River Thames, demonstrate that they will not preclude future rising or set back of the defence as identified in the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan to ensure adequate flood protection for the lifetime of the development.

For more information please see the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1