Flood risk: planning applications
A floodplain is the area that would naturally be affected by flooding if a river rises above its banks.
Cheshire East Council has to take the risk of flooding into account when assessing whether to grant planning permission for development.
Strategic flood assessments
In November 2006 JBA Consulting was commissioned by the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, to undertake the Crewe and Nantwich Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA).
JBA Consulting were commissioned by the former Congleton Borough Council to undertake the Congleton Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) in September 2007.
In September 2007 JBA Consulting was commissioned by the former Macclesfield Borough Council to undertake the Macclesfield Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA).
The SFRA is prepared in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk (PPS25). The SFRA is a planning tool that enables the Council to select and implement sustainable development away from vulnerable flood risk areas. The assessment focuses on allocated and potential development sites already identified within the district but also sets out the procedure to be followed in when assessing additional sites in the future. The SFRA will assist Cheshire East Council to make the spatial planning decisions required to inform their Local Plan.
Planning guidance relating to flood risk
On the 1st of October 2006 this order made the Environment Agency a statutory consultee for planning applications involving flood risk in specified circumstances.
This replaces the previous Government policy as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 on Development and Flood Risk (PPG25). The Practice Guide accompanies PPS25.
The Environment Agency has produced standing advice to assist Local Planning Authorities make decisions on low risk planning applications where, whilst flood risk is an issue, there is no need to consult directly for a bespoke response. The standing advice also sets out those higher risk developments on which the Agency is a statutory consultee on development and flood risk where they need to be consulted directly by Local Planning Authorities. The standing advice also provides advice for applicants and agents on the requirements for flood risk assessment (FRA) for both low and higher risk developments.
Page last reviewed: 05 August 2021
Thank you for your feedback.