Case Study: Zone 2 Flood Risk Assessment in Lewisham
We recently worked alongside the team at Maddox Planning and AAVA Architecture on behalf of Land Development Property Group Ltd to offer our flood risk consultation services for their Weardale Road, Lewisham project.
Project Overview
After completing the construction of 14 flats, Land Development Property Group Ltd retained a parcel of land at the end of the plot, which included an existing garage. When they sought a pre-application response from the local authority, they were informed that because the site is located within Flood Zone 2, a Sequential Test would be required, which would almost certainly result in planning permission being refused.
Aegaea’s Approach
Although the site sits in Flood Zone 2 and the pre-application response was that a Sequential Test would be required, our Flood Risk Consultants recognise the importance of data and how it’s applied to the interpretation of policy. Aegaea’s team carefully assessed the detailed flood model outputs and confirmed it lay within the 1-in-100-year flood extent plus climate change allowance.
By aligning detailed data with a sharp understanding of policy requirements, we built a compelling, site-specific Flood Risk Assessment that convinced the local authority that the site posed low flood risk and could be developed safely.
The Outcome
After considering the Flood Risk Assessment, which evidenced the risk of flooding to the site for all sources, the local authority agreed that the site was low risk for flooding and did not require a Sequential Test. Planning approval was subsequently granted.
This project was a great example of how collaboration between planners and flood risk consultants at an early stage can unlock development potential, even in cases where the pre-app response may indicate that it would not be viable.
“The site sits in Flood Zone 2, and the initial pre-app response was a firm no due to the requirement for a sequential test, which wouldn’t have been passed.
But thanks to the NPPF and the sharp-eyed Daniel Cook, we were able to demonstrate through an FRA that all sources of flooding posed a low risk, meaning the sequential test wasn’t needed after all.”
– Ollie Cooper, Senior Planner
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