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Lead Local Flood Authority and planning applications

We are a designated Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) which means we have various duties as set out in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. This includes providing responses to major development planning applications where there is surface water drainage.

In this context, 'major development' means:

  • in respect of residential development, the provision of 10 or more dwellings, or a site of 0.5 hectares or more
  • in respect of non-residential development, new floorspace of 1,000 square metres or more, or a site of one hectare or more

A series of checklists are available for major planning applications to help applicants with submissions. These provide information on what level of information should be included to show the proposals meet current planning policy and national technical design standards.

We have also produced a suite of checklists to give advice to developers before they submit a planning application. These checklists clarify details and frequently asked questions. These checklist documents are linked below. 

A separate document that provides further advice on a connection to a highway drain or a culverted watercourse is also listed below.