Drainage and flooding issues related to new developments has been given much greater importance by planners over recent years due to major flooding events. Planning Policy Guidance 25 (PPG25) was introduced in July 2001 to ensure local planning authorities take into account the risk of flooding to the development and the increased risk it may cause to the surrounding area. PPG25 was replaced by PPS25 in 2006 and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in March 2012, which builds on the principals in PPG25 and introduces a more strategic approach to development in flood risk areas.

The environment agency have categorized flood risk into 3 categories low to high. Flood risk assessments can be relatively simple, for larger developments within the flood plain the assessments could involve major studies of the river catchment. With our extensive knowledge we are able to provide clients with flood risk assessments in support of an application as required under NPPF.