London Borough of Enfield Council have several bespoke flood risk planning policies and datasets which need to be considered in addition to national guidance in order to gain planning approval for householder applications as well as minor / major developments.
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Relevant FRA planning policies and documents include:
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London Plan (2021) - SI 12 Flood Risk Management, SI 13 Sustainable Drainage
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Enfield Core Strategy (2010) - CP21, CP28, CP29
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Enfield Development Management Document (2014) - DMD59, DMD60, DMD61, DMD62, DMD63
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New Enfield Local Plan 2041: Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2021)
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London Borough of Enfield Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (2016)
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London Borough of Enfield Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2023)
When Do I Need A Flood Risk Assessment In Enfield?
Enfield Council’s 2024 Validation Checklist states that a Flood Risk Assessment is required to accompany:
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Proposals involving a change of use, creating new residential and/or commercial units, creating new buildings, basements, extensions to basements or ground level extensions with the following constraints:
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Surface Water Flood Risk
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Flood Zone 2
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Flood Zone 3a
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Flood Zone 3b
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Proposals comprising 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
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Proposals creating new buildings, basements, extensions to basements or ground level extensions within 8m of a watercourse (including culverted waterways)​
Speak to a Chartered Flood Risk Consultant today for advice or a free quote
Call 01174 414993 or email info@geoson.co.uk
What Needs To Be Included Within The FRA?
Flood Risk Assessments submitted to Enfield Council must identify the potential flood risks to a development from multiple sources and demonstrate how any flood risk will be managed so that the development remains safe throughout its lifetime, taking climate change into account.
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In addition to the standard searches, London Borough of Enfield Council have produced a bespoke, combined flood model for the 1 in 100yr + 17% climate change extent which needs to be assessed within all flood risk reports. This is a separate dataset to the Flood Zone 2 and Flood Zone 3 extents (shown on the Flood Map for Planning) and is held by Enfield Council rather than the Environment Agency.
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Enfield Council’s combined flood model was created by integrating four pre-existing flood model datasets for the following catchments:
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Turkey Brook
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River Lee (including Small River Lee)
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Salmons Brook (including Houndsden Gutter, Saddlers Mill Stream and Brimsdown Ditch)
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Pymmes Brook
Having undertaken many Flood Risk Assessments within the borough of Enfield, GeoSon already hold copies of the relevant flood model datasets in-house, reducing the time required to complete a Flood Risk Assessment as we do not have to wait for third party responses.
How Can Flood Risk Affect My Development Proposals?
National and local flood risk datasets will be reviewed as part of a Flood Risk Assessment. Based on the flood risk(s) identified at a site, Enfield Council’s validation checklist advises that:
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Finished Floor Levels (FFLs) must be set at least 150mm above the 1 in 100 year (plus climate change) surface water flood level
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Finished Floor Levels (FFLs) must be set at least 300mm above the 1 in 100 year (plus climate change) fluvial flood level
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The development must not reduce flood storage on site. Where development is located within the climate change extent level-for-level flood compensation will be required
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A Flood Management/Evacuation Plan must be provided demonstrating that the evacuation route is in the “Very Low Hazard Level” according to FD2320 Methodolody
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Flood resistance and resilience measures should be utilised where appropriate
In addition to the list above, Enfield Council are increasingly requesting that post development surface water drainage arrangements are detailed as part of the planning submission on most, if not all, applications.
How We Can Help
Given our experience of working on development sites within the London Borough of Enfield we are well placed to advise on the local policy requirements that need to be considered in order to enable your application to gain planning approval.
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GeoSon already hold copies of the Environment Agency and Enfield Council flood model datasets in-house. Therefore, we can quickly advise you on the relevant planning requirements you need to consider within your application:
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Finished Floor Levels (FFLs)
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Floodplain compensatory storage
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Flood evacuation routes
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Resistance/ resilience measures
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Surface Water Drainage
Addressing flood risk and drainage issues at an early stage can save time, reduce costs and significantly improve the chances of securing planning permission.
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Contact us today to discuss your project and find out how we can support your flood risk and drainage requirements in Enfield.
Areas that we cover include, but are not limited to: Arnos Grove, Bowes, Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Bush Hill Park, Carterhatch, Cockfosters, Edmonton Green, Enfield Lock, Enfield Town, Grange Park, Haselbury, Highfield, Jubilee, Lower Edmonton, Upper Edmonton, New Southgate, Oakwood, Palmers Green, Ponders End, Ridgeway, Southbury, Southgate, Whitewebbs and Winchmore Hill.