SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 60·6.107
Development in flood plains - general presumption against
Built development is generally not permitted within river or sea flood plains unless it meets specific exceptions, is of overriding regional/sub-regional economic importance, and is considered minor development.
Accordingly, built development must not be permitted within the flood plains of rivers or the sea unless the following circumstances apply:
• the development proposal constitutes a valid exception to the general presumption against development in flood plains (exceptions for defended and undefended areas of the flood plain are set out at Figure 1);
• the development proposal is of overriding regional or sub-regional economic importance; and
• the development proposal is considered as minor development in the context of flood risk.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/regional/SPPS - Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025).pdf