Flood Risk as a Material Consideration

The susceptibility of all land to flooding is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. New development may be directly at risk from flooding from a number of sources and / or may increase the risk elsewhere. The consequences for occupiers in such cases, both in terms of personal safety and damage to property, can be serious. Further information on the impact of flooding is contained in Annex B. Where a flood risk is known to exist, the planning authority will pay particular regard to these considerations when determining planning applications. It should be noted however that the responsibility of the planning authority in this respect does not affect the liability position of developers or owners in respect of the application site or other land.