Local Plan Review Evidence

Flood risk

Evidence we've gathered relating to flood risk in Swale for the local plan review.

Sequential Test

The Local Plan Review will need to allocate enough land to meet the Borough’s future development needs. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk. Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere. To achieve this, local plans should apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development and the first step in doing so is to apply the sequential test (1MB PDF). The Sequential Test will be updated in due course with any relevant new sites and following the revisions to Planning Practice Guidance, 2022.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (March 2020)

The Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change was updated in August 2022. Until the Swale SFRA (below) is updated to reflect these updates, those preparing Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) must prepare them so the content takes full account of the August 2022 PPG requirements.

A Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has been carried out for Swale Borough Council by JBA Consulting. The SFRA will be used to:

• inform the plan-making process, in particular the choice of allocations, following the sequential approach
• assist Development Management decisions
• assist Developers in the preparation of Flood Risk Assessments
• help prioritise and target improvements to flood defences and prepare for flood emergencies

The draft SFRA was reported to the Local Plan Panel on 27th November 2019.

Following the panel meeting, we have published the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment report and appendices, with updates, on our website.