Managing development and building works to reduce flood risk

Although flooding is a natural event, it can be life-threatening and cause severe damage to property. The risk can't be removed but can be reduced through good planning and management in order to create safe and sustainable future development. 

How we manage flood risk

As the Lead Local Flood Authority and as the Local Planning Authority, we have a range of duties and powers to help prevent and manage flooding within the borough. Some of those duties affect building and development within the borough. 

As the Local Planning Authority, we are responsible for assessing flood risk. 

Read the latest Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (pdf, 2.3 MB).

Structures or features that may reduce flooding 

As the Lead Local Flood Authority we have powers to designate structures or features with a significant impact on flood risk. We do this to protect structures or features that play a role in reducing flood risk. If we have designated something it usually means that a number of properties would be at a greater risk of flooding if that structure or feature was removed. 

The Environment Agency also have powers to designate structures, to find out more view flood and sea defences guidance (GOV.UK).

A record of the designation will be put onto the local land charges so that subsequent land owners will be made aware of the designation. 

Once we have designated a feature, the owner must seek consent from us to alter, remove, or replace it. 

If you make a change to a designated feature without our consent, we may issue an enforcement notice which will set out the steps that must be taken to restore the feature. 

You may appeal against a designation notice, refusal of consent, conditions placed on a consent or an enforcement notice. 

Sustainable urban drainage 

Sustainable drainage aims to mimic natural processes. Examples of sustainable drainage are: 

• Ponds 
• Green roofs 
• Soakaways 
• Swales 

Sustainable drainage puts as much water as possible back into the ground to: 

• Help maintain healthy aquifers 
• Decrease the risk of flooding and drought 
• Improve water quality 

Sustainable drainage is a material planning consideration for all Major applications. The Lead Local Flood Authority is consulted on all major planning applications since 15 April 2015. 

Read more about assessing drainage on major applications and how to complete the drainage Proforma. 

Ordinary watercourse consenting 

As Lead Local Flood Authority we are responsible for consenting and enforcing ordinary watercourses. 

If you are undertaking work that will affect the flow of water through an ordinary watercourse or culvert, you need consent from us before work can begin. 

A watercourse is defined in the Land Drainage Act 1991 as 'all rivers and streams, all ditches, drains, cuts, culverts, dikes, sluices, sewers (other than public sewers within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991) and passages, through which water flows'. 

An ordinary watercourse is a watercourse that has not been designated as a main river on the Environment agency's flood risk map. 

If you do not get consent from us and your work affects an ordinary watercourse we have the power to take remedial action. This includes the power to complete the works and reclaim the associated costs from you (see section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991).