Pre-application surface water drainage advice on major planning applications

We are the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The act promotes discussions with all stakeholders from the moment of land acquisition, before a developer submits a planning application. These discussions often result in an application that is more likely to be approved and reduce overall costs.

We operate a pre-application advice service for developers and consultants. There is a charge for this advice.

Benefits of the service are:

  • potentially reducing the time and cost involved in working up proposals, including that of your professional advisers
  • reducing the subsequent cost of abortive applications
  • confirming the information you need to provide with your application
  • ensuring sustainable drainage is considered from the outset of the process and drives the site evolution.
  • helps speed up the decision-making process once an application has been submitted and
  • steer the design process through the concept stages to outline to detailed design submission

Advice can include:

  • signposting to relevant national and local policies, standards and guidance
  • advice on the relevant level of detail and supporting information necessary to provide a valid technical assessment of a concept stage surface water management strategy
  • advice on relevant consents might be required for surface water discharge
  • where a sustainable technical note, statement or assessment is required, advice on the content, scope, preparation and presentation that is likely to satisfy our requirements
  • suitability of access arrangements, for example, easements, buffer zones, (may require separate concept design check with associated fees) and
  • site-specific requirements, such as school sites

How to obtain advice

Email us with as much detail regarding the proposals as possible. One of our officers will contact you to discuss your requirements and arrange to schedule the meetings or site visits as required.

The target for completing the pre-application advice response is 21 working days.

We do not provide pre-application advice for minor developments (such as residential development of between one and nine dwellings and development where the floorspace is less than 1,000 sq m).  

We recommend that developers refer to Local Planning Policy and the LLFA Local SuDS Standards when developing proposals.

Request pre-application advice

Charges from April 2025 (incl VAT)

From 10 to 24 dwellings

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£598
Virtual meeting and additional written response£747
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£1,144

From 25 to 49 dwellings

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£747
Virtual meeting and additional written response£1,046
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£1,294

From 50 to 99 dwellings

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£1,196
Virtual meeting and additional written response£1,494
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£1,742

From 100 to 199 dwellings

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£2,390
Virtual meeting and additional written response£2,839
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£3,086

200-399 dwellings or 1,000m2-4,999m2 B1-B8 (business) or 1,000-3,499m2 A1 (retail) use

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£2,390
Virtual meeting and additional written response£2,839
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£3,086

400 or more dwellings or 5,000m2 or more B1-B8 (business) or 3,500m2 or more A1 (retail) use

Type of serviceFee
Additional written response£2,689
Virtual meeting and additional written response£3,138
Site visit/in-person meeting and additional response£3,385