The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Offaly County ...

Chapter 3:Principles and Key Mechanisms17• The key principles of a risk-based sequential approach to managing floodhazard and potential risk in the planning system are based on a sequentialapproach and are set out in this chapter. They are:1. Avoid development in areas at risk of flooding;2. If this is not possible, consider substituting a land use that is lessvulnerable to flooding.3. Only when both avoidance and substitution cannot take place shouldconsideration be given to mitigation and management of risks.• Inappropriate types of development that would create unacceptable risksfrom flooding should not be planned for or permitted.• Exceptions to the restriction of development due to potential flood risks areprovided for through the use of the Justification Test, where the planningneed and the sustainable management of flood risk to an acceptable levelcan be demonstrated.Planning principles3.1 The approach to the integration of flood risk assessment and management inthe planning process set out in these guidelines entails the application of anumber of core principles. These principles are derived from experience offlood issues in Ireland and from international best practice and perspectives.They should inform and underpin planning policy and guidance at all levelsin the planning process.3.2 The principle actions when considering flood risk management in the planningsystem are:I. Flood hazard and potential risk should be identified and considered atthe earliest stage in the planning process. A hierarchy of national, regional,local and site-specific assessment of flood risk will enable a proportionateresponse to the consideration of flood risk.II.III.Development should preferentially be located in areas with little or noflood hazard, thereby avoiding or minimising the risk. Development inthe context of thes Guidelines includes all construction, such as transportand utility infrastructure as well as residential and other buildings.Development should only be permitted in areas at risk of flooding, whenthere are no alternative, reasonable sites available in areas at lower riskPlanning Guidelines