KPPC has welcomed updated Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) from the government for the application of the sequential test for flood risk.

Previous guidance stated that any site at risk of flooding had to be subject to and satisfy the sequential test.

The test is designed to ensure that areas at little or no risk of flooding from any source are developed in preference to areas at higher risk.

This meant that well designed schemes which utilised water features and the like as part of their overall layout and drainage strategy were still being ruled out on principle for not satisfying the sequential test even though no part of the development was at risk.

Now the new guidance issued on surface water flood risk states that the national policy sequential test need not apply in certain circumstances. It states:

“Where a site-specific flood risk assessment demonstrates clearly that the proposed layout, design, and mitigation measures would ensure that occupiers and users would remain safe from current and future surface water flood risk for the lifetime of the development (therefore addressing the risks identified, e.g. by Environment Agency flood risk mapping), without increasing flood risk elsewhere, then the sequential test need not be applied.”

Updates providing clarification on the interpretation and application of the sequential test have been anticipated since changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December last year.

KPPC chief executive Ken Parke said: “This is significant because it allows any issues arising to be part of the design process rather than simply ruling out land that could otherwise safely be developed.”

Please contact us to find our more and to discuss how the changes will affect your development plans or project.