Developers and Planners

Nottingham City Council as a Lead Local Flood Authority is permitted to act as a required consultee on all major developments for surface water drainage. A major development is defined in the Development Management Order;

Major development means development involving one or more of the following;

1. The winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral working deposits;
2. Waste development;
3. The provision of dwelling houses where:
   1. The number of dwelling houses to be provided is 10 or more; or
   2. The development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the development falls within sub-paragraph (c)(i);
4. The provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the development is 1,000 square metres or more; or
5. Development carried out on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more

Development proposals will be assessed according to an ordered approach and where necessary the exceptions test as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and guidance.

The NPPF relates to Government Policy on the provision and long term maintenance of sustainable drainage systems and also explains how Local Plans should take account of flood risk. These plans should set out the requirements and priorities for certain areas.

Nottingham City Council has identified as a local requirement that any developers seeking to develop within the River Leen and Day Brook catchment should be aiming to achieve as close to Greenfield runoff rates as possible. For brownfield sites; a bare minimum of 30% reduction in surface water run-off needs to be demonstrated and as close to greenfield run-off rates for areas in high risk; the applicant will be required to liaise with the Lead Local Flood Authority and discharge rates are subject to approval with the Lead Local Flood Authority

Planning applications for major developments should, therefore, be accompanied by a site specific drainage strategy or statement that demonstrates that the drainage scheme proposed complies with the NPPF and the Non-statutory technical standards for sustainable drainage. The technical standards relate to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of sustainable drainage systems (SuDs).

In circumstances when the development site is either located within Flood Zone 2 or 3 or when the site area is greater than 1 hectare or is classified as a major development then a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) must be submitted alongside the application.

• Any information regarding how to undertake an FRA can be found on the Government Website. Flood risk assessments if you're applying for planning permission - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Nottingham City Council is currently developing a Supplementary Planning Document to embed within the Local Plan, at the point of completion the Planning Document will be uploaded to our Flood Document Library.