Flood Evacuation Planning.

Evacuation Strategies can develop Flood Evacuation Plans so that developers can satisfy the conditions attached to planning consent by the Local Authority for developments where there is a risk of flooding.

The incidence and risk of flooding in the UK is increasing and in December 2006 the Department for Communities and Local Government published Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25), setting out Government policy on development and flood risk. The aim of PPS25 is to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process for new development.

Where an application is submitted to a Local Authority to develop residential accommodation, the Authority has a duty to comply with PPS25 and to consult with partner agencies, including the Environment Agency (EA). Where the proposed new development is located in an area at risk of flooding the EA can object or request that conditions are attached to any planning consent that is granted.

These conditions can relate to the actual design of the development (e.g. no residential accommodation at ground level) or a requirement for a Flood Evacuation Plan (FEP) to be developed for residents of the completed property. In some instances, the FEP will have to be submitted prior to commencement of construction work on the development.

In order to develop an FEP it is necessary to consult with the Local Authority, the EA and other partner agencies as well as understanding the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the location, the roles and responsibilities of the emergency services and the options available to the residents of the completed development.

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