Policy information sourced from Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development
PMD15 – FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT
Applications relating to sites not covered by the Thurrock Sequential Test will be required to be supported by a site-specific Sequential Test to demonstrate compliance with the NPPF, and associated Planning Practice Guidance. To reflect the nature of Thurrock’s defended floodplain, particular reference should be made to the hazard rating for each site where covered by the Thurrock Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.
Only those applications classified under the ‘minor development’ or ‘changes of use’ categories will be exempt from both the Sequential and Exception Tests, and ‘water compatible’ development will be exempt from the Exception Test. All developments will still be expected to meet the requirements for Flood Risk Assessments.
Development proposals subject to the Exception Test in Thurrock must show that the following criteria have been met (in addition to FRA requirements outlined in the NPPF and associated Planning Practice Guidance):
- In addressing that part of the Exception Test requiring demonstration that the development provides wider sustainability benefits to the community that outweigh flood risk, reference should be made to the main assessment criteria outlined in the Thurrock Sustainability Appraisal and any opportunities to reduce the overall flood risk posed to the community, including schemes to make space for water;
- The FRA must demonstrate that the development will be ‘safe’, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and where possible will reduce flood risk overall. For Thurrock, this will mean addressing the following points in particular:
- Flood hazard must be fully considered and reference should be made in the site-specific FRA to the SFRA, or site-specific modelling. This should be used to inform a sequential approach to planning within the site;
- Where it is deemed acceptable to reduce flood storage as a result of development, level for level compensation storage must be provided to ensure that there is no increased flood risk elsewhere;
- Where appropriate, an emergency plan for the development must be submitted that is consistent with the emergency plan for the area. This will include evidence that ‘more vulnerable’ development can achieve safe access/egress to a communal refuge point or unaffected area accessible to the emergency services. In highly exceptional cases where access/egress to a place of safe refuge cannot be achieved, these will be considered on their individual merits;
- Where appropriate, flood avoidance, flood resistance and flood resilience measures must be incorporated into the design of any development;
- Evidence that surface water management schemes, and other flood defence measures that are required on-site in order to allow a development to take place will be adequately maintained for the lifetime of that development by the site owner;
- Evidence that the proposed development will not interfere with the potential for future maintenance or improvements to flood defences.
Developers may be required to provide Developer Contributions towards the improvement of Emergency Planning services and flood defence measures within Thurrock as part of flood management mitigation.
Developments will be expected to incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) to reduce the risk of surface water flooding, both to the site in question and to the surrounding area. Where the potential for surface water flooding has been identified, site specific Flood Risk Assessments should ensure that suitable SUDS techniques are incorporated as part of the redevelopment.
For more information please see the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development