Planning and Flooding
Flood risk assessments (FRA) are supplied in support of applications for development to Local Planning Authorities. Where the Planning Authority considers that there might be a risk of flooding to the development site it has a statutory duty to consult SEPA for advice and guidance on flood risk. SEPA will review FRA reports and provide advice and comment to the Planning Authority on the appropriateness of the study, its conclusions and the acceptability of the proposed development in line with Scottish Planning Policy.
The technical requirements of a FRA for any site can range from the provision of detailed topographic information to demonstrate the relative level of the development site in relation to the river/floodplain to technically-detailed hydrological and 1- or 2-dimensional hydraulic modelling to investigate the risk to the development or its impact elsewhere.
Clearly, the time taken to review FRAs is linked to the complexity of the site, including the technical complexity of the study, however, it is also dependent on the quality of the information presented. Given that Consultants are employed by Developers to undertake FRAs there is clearly scope for different corporate styles and formats although there are core data and information that should be clearly presented to facilitate the rapid review/audit of reports with the subsequent provision of advice to the Planning authority. To further facilitate a timely review of FRAs SEPA has developed a Consultant flood risk assessment checklist to be completed as an aide memoir to ensure key aspects have been considered and included in the report.
The attached technical guidance document is intended to outline methodologies that may be appropriate for hydrological and hydraulic modelling and what information SEPA requires to be submitted as part of a FRA. The clear presentation of key data will enable an improved review and response time to Planning Authorities thus positively affecting the planning process. SEPA therefore recommends that the technical guidance document is reviewed and the guidance followed to ensure that appropriate techniques are applied and that suitable information is clearly supplied to allow for an improved response time to Planning consultations.