Managing flood risk in the Borough’s coastal areas, but also from rivers/streams and from surface water and all other sources is a key issue both in planning for new development.

In general terms, national and local policy and guidance requires applicants:

• To consider all sources of flooding
• To consider both current and future risk
• To apply a hierarchy to the assessment of risk, beginning with avoiding the risk altogether
• To demonstrate that the development will be safe for its lifetime, without increasing flood risk elsewhere

All applicants are encouraged to discuss their flood risk and drainage strategy and information needs at the earliest opportunity through pre-application discussions. In some cases, it is also advisable to seek pre-application advice from the Environment Agency, as well as the Local Planning Authority.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes a chapter on development and flood risk, and extensive national guidance on this topic is available under the heading ‘Flood Risk and Coastal Change’ at www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-practice-guidance. 

However, by is nature, this cannot take account of all local circumstances and sources of information. The note linked below is designed to signpost sources of information for applicants in Havant Borough. 

Flood Risk Information for Applicants (pdf 120 kb)

In particular, applicants should note the existence of a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment which the Council, together with its sub-regional partners, has commissioned to support its Local Plan and the assessment of applications, as well as the work of the Coastal Team.

In demonstrating that flood risk has been avoided the ‘Sequential Test’ is a key tool referred to in the NPPF and NPPG.  Local Guidance has been produced to help applicants apply the national requirements at a local level.

Flood Risk Sequential Test & Exception Test (pdf 300 kb)