Strategic Objectives:

E Responding to the climate emergency,

G Healthy and safe communities,

H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.

A Development proposals should be located and designed having regard to the London Sustainable Drainage Action Plan, the Council’s Surface Water Management Plan and Local Flood Risk Management Strategy;

B Development proposals must achieve greenfield runoff rates and ensure that surface water runoff is managed as close to its source as possible, in line with the London Plan drainage hierarchy. Proposals for major development and development in a Critical Drainage Area must submit a Drainage Strategy.

C Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) involving infiltration must not have an adverse impact on groundwater sources. Where infiltration is proposed, developers should liaise with the Environment Agency to consider the suitability of Sustainable Drainage Systems SuDS having regard to the impact of drainage into the groundwater aquifer.

D Where it is clearly demonstrated that a greenfield runoff rate cannot be achieved or SuDS cannot be implemented due to reasons of feasibility, development proposals must:

E Development proposals should be designed to include permeable surfaces wherever possible. Proposals for impermeable surfacing, including on front gardens, driveways, and car parks, will be refused unless it can be suitably demonstrated that this is unavoidable.

F Development industry partners are responsible for making proper provision for surface water drainage to ground, water courses or surface water sewer. Proposals for new surface water provision will not be allowed to drain to the foul sewer, as this is the major contributor to sewer flooding.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan