Drainage advice to planning applicants

Information about the role of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) in the planning process and guidance for developers preparing planning applications.

How we assess planning applications

Croydon Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).

We are a statutory consultee for major planning applications where surface water drainage may affect flood risk.

This means we must provide the local planning authority (LPA) with technical advice on surface water drainage for major developments. We review the drainage information submitted with planning applications and provide a formal response to the LPA.

The local planning authority is responsible for deciding whether to approve or refuse a planning application.

We may also provide technical advice to the LPA on minor developments where appropriate.

To help us assess an application, you must submit clear and accurate drainage information. This allows us to carry out our statutory duties and helps the LPA make informed planning decisions.

Before you submit your application

Before submitting an application, read the surface water management guidance (PDF, 100KB) and make sure your drainage strategy meets our requirements.

Get pre-application advice

We strongly recommend that you seek pre-application advice before submitting a major planning application.

The LLFA can provide site-specific advice on the requirements for a surface water drainage strategy.

Fees

Time spent reviewing informationFee
Up to 4 hours£776
More than 4 hours and up to 8 hours£1376

Apply for LLFA pre-application advice 

If you have not already paid, you can pay online (search for LLFA). .

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) process provides information on flood risk. 

The Level 1 SFRA assesses the flood risk in the borough and provides the information to enable each borough to apply the sequential test. 

The Level 2 SFRA provides the necessary information to justify the development of sites through satisfaction of the exception test and will provide information on the suitability of SuDS.

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 overview of significant flood risk, including the likelihood of flooding and the potential impacts of past and future flood events.

You can read:

Surface Water Management Plan

The Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) is how we manage surface water flood risk.

It considers flooding caused by:

  • heavy rainfall
  • overloaded sewers and drains
  • groundwater
  • runoff from land
  • ordinary watercourses and ditches

Read the Surface Water Management Plan 2011 (PDF, 5.47MB)

Flood risk information

You can:

Designated structures or features that may reduce flooding

We can designate structures or features that have a significant effect on local flood risk.

A designation helps protect assets that play an important role in managing flood risk. This may include structures or features that reduce, store or control flood water.

Once a structure or feature has been designated, owners must obtain consent before removing, altering or replacing

Contact us

For any enquiries, contact the LLFA Team at floodandwater@croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8726 6000.
 

Further information