Flood risk frequently asked questions
These FAQs provide guidance for applicants on when flood risk assessments are required in planning applications to the Lake District National Park Authority.
Flooding and the potential impacts of flooding are something we take into account in our decisions. The planning process aims to:
- direct development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding
- ensure that where new development is necessary in high risk areas, it is made safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere and where possible, reducing flood risk overall.
A site specific flood risk assessment is required to be submitted with any of the following planning application types:
- All proposals of 1 hectare or greater in Flood Zone 1
- All proposals for new development in Flood Zones 2 and 3
- All proposals within Flood Zone 1 where the site has critical drainage problems (as notified to the local planning authority by the Environment Agency)
- All proposals within the buffer zone of a main river
- All proposals on land at risk of surface water flooding
If proposal falls within one of these categories, you must provide a site specific flood risk assessment before we can validate your application.
The Government expects developers to undertake a site specific flood risk assessment. You may need to employ a suitably qualified consultant or flood engineer to do this for you.
The Government’s National Planning Practice Guidance provides further information and links about the consideration of flood risk flood risk assessments in the planning process.
The Government’s National Planning Practice Guidance explains that the objectives of a site- specific flood risk assessment should be to:
- establish whether a proposal is likely to be affected by current or future flooding from any source
- establish whether a proposal will increase flood risk elsewhere
- establish whether the measures proposed to deal with flood effects and risks are appropriate
- provide the evidence for the local planning authority to apply the Sequential Test where necessary
- establish whether the development will be safe and pass the Exception Test if applicable
Your site specific flood risk assessment should demonstrate how flood risk will be managed now and over the development’s lifetime, taking climate change into account, and with regard to the vulnerability of the development’s users. The Government publishes a checklist of the information they expect your flood risk assessment to include in National Planning Practice Guidance.
