Drainage advice to planning applicants

Statutory consultee on planning applications

Croydon Council, as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), is a statutory consultee on planning applications for major development proposals which have surface water drainage implications in any flood zone.

As a statutory consultee, the LLFA has a legal requirement to provide the local planning authority (LPA) with an informed substantive response to planning applications for major development proposals, with respect to surface water drainage. The role of decision making on planning applications remains the responsibility of the LPA. LLFA can also provide non statutory technical advice to the LPA on minor development.

For the LLFA to discharge its statutory duties and for the LPA to make an informed decision it is important that acceptable and quality information is submitted. 

We have produced the advice to planning applicants (PDF 994KB) guidance document. We recommend that planning applicants familiarise themselves with the LLFA requirements for a drainage strategy before submitting their application.

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in planning applications

SuDS is a material planning consideration for all Major applications. The LLFA is consulted on all major planning applications since 15 April 2015. 

To ensure you submit all the relevant information and avoid delay in processing your application, submit copies of the following to the LPA along with your drainage strategy:

• the checklist in appendix 2 of the advice to planning applicants (PDF, 929.22KB)
• the London sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) proforma (XLSX, 280.68KB)

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) process provides information on flood risk. View the most recent (2021) Level 1 and Level 2 SFRA.

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment

The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) is a LLFA duty under the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 (Section 2). The PFRA provides a high level summary of significant flood risk describing both the probability and harmful consequences of past and future flooding.

The original 2011 PFRA is available here: Preliminary flood risk assessment (PDF, 556.51KB)
A 2017 update to the PFRA is available here: Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment 2017 Addendum

Surface Water Management Plan

The Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) outlines the preferred surface water management strategy for Croydon and includes consideration of flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater and runoff from land, ordinary watercourses and ditches that occurs as a result of heavy rainfall. The SWMP is currently being updated.

Surface Water management plan 2011 (PDF, 5.47MB)

Environment Agency Flood Risk Maps

The Environment Agency’s flood map for planning can be used to identify flood risk information and requirements for a development site.

The long term flood risk of an area can be identified, along with other useful information, by using the Environment Agency’s long term flood risk mapping.
 

Pre-application advice for a major development

It is strongly advised that applicants seek pre-application advice from the LPA prior to submission of their application.  However, bespoke pre-application advice on the requirements of a surface water drainage strategy can be provided by the LLFA on a chargeable basis.  The current rates for providing this service are:

• 0 to 4 hours = £623.00 + VAT
• 4 to 8 hours = £1185.30 + VAT

If you are interested in applying for a bespoke pre-application advice with the LLFA, contact us at floodandwater@croydon.gov.uk or 020 8726 6000.

Designated structures or features that may reduce flooding

We have powers to designate structures or features with a significant impact on flood risk.