Flood Risk Management

Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFA) Role in Planning

Stoke-on-Trent City Council as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), is a statutory consultee to the planning process for surface water drainage on all major developments. When consulted, we also comment on minor planning applications to ensure they do not increase flood risk across the city and demonstrate a sustainable approach to drainage.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Local Plan, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS), and associated Technical Guidance sets out the requirements for considering flood risk and sustainable drainage strategies for proposed developments as part of the planning approval process. A link to all documents can be found at the bottom of this page.

The proposals must ensure that they do not increase the risk of flooding to the site itself and surrounding area, considering the impacts of climate change. Before applying, please review Governments Flood Map for Planning to determine the documents required with a planning application. To request our Stratigic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) flood maps for your site boundary please contact the Local Planning Authority (LPA).

Flood Risk Assessment (FRAs)

This assessment is undertaken to identify and assess all forms of flooding within a proposed development boundary. The Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) must demonstrate any existing flood risk is managed appropriately and ensures no increase to the surrounding area.

The FRA should also include details of the proposed surface water drainage strategy. Alternatively, this can be submitted as a separate sustainable drainage strategy. 

Flood risk assessments: applying for planning permission - GOV.UK

Site-specific flood risk assessment: Checklist

Preparing a flood risk assessment: standing advice - GOV.UK 

Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Proposals must demonstrate a Sustainable Drainage Strategy for the lifetime of the development. As a city we require the applicant to provide Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the form of a SuDS Management Train approach, this must be considered within all planning applications submissions. Taking this approach to manging surface water helps to:

• Manage Flood Risk
• Improve Water Quality
• Enhance Biodiversity
• Promote Amenity Spaces

Proposals must ensure they are designed in accordance with our local policies. 

Government guidance: Sustainable drainage systems

If a watercourse is located within the site boundary, you will need to provide supporting information to demonstrate how the existing watercourses will be managed and enhanced as part of the proposed development. Proposals must retain future maintenance access.

Culverts should be opened up where possible and we will only consider permitting a short length of watercourse for access, if no other options are available.   

Please view our planning constraints map before applying for planning permission, this provides an indicative guide of existing watercourse locations.

Any alterations to an ordinary watercourse will require formal consent under the Land Drainage Act 1991.

Further guidance on managing a watercourse within the site boundary can be found within our Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

Pre-application advice

We would advise all developments consider the Local Planning Authorities Pre-application advice before applying for planning permission:

I need planning advice

If applying for a pre-application, we would advise providing a Flood Risk Assessment and Sustainable Drainage Strategy (where applicable). To ensure we can provide the best possible guidance.

For further guidance on our Stoke-on-Trent Flood Risk Management policies and strategies, please visit the following link: 

Water and flooding