Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - South Worcestershire ...

8.9 Making development safe8.9.1 Safe Access and EgressThe developer must ensure that safe access and egress is provided to an appropriate level forthe type of development. This may involve raising access routes to a suitable level. Morevulnerable development such as residential development should have safe access and egresswith routes remaining ‘operational’ during flooding.As part of the FRA, the developer should review the acceptability of the proposed access inconsultation with the Environment Agency.8.9.2 Flood Warning and EvacuationEmergency/evacuation and rescue plans should be in place for all highly vulnerable and majordevelopment within the 1 in 1,000 year floodplain. Those developments which house vulnerablepeople (i.e. care homes and schools) will require more detailed plans. Other major developmentmay also consider this as it is beneficial from a public safety perspective as well as a socioeconomicpoint of view. The responsibility for approving these plans lies with the emergencyplanners and emergency services. Advice should be sought from WCC’s Emergency Planningteam when producing an emergency/evacuation plan for developments as part of an FRA.Detailed emergency/evacuation plans for developments should undertake consultation not onlywith WCC’s emergency planning team but also the emergency services so they know what isexpected of them in the event of an emergency.Areas where no flood warning exists may find it difficult to demonstrate that their development issafe i.e. a car park in Flood Zone 3.Flood warnings supplied by the Environment Agency’s Floodline Warnings Direct service can beprovided to homes and businesses within Flood Zones 2 and 3, although the service is notavailable everywhere. Developers should encourage those owning or occupying developments,where flood warnings can be provided, to sign up to receive them. This applies even if thedevelopment is defended to a high standard.8.10 Making Space for Water8.10.1 Opportunities for River Restoration and EnhancementAll new development close to rivers should consider the opportunity presented to improve andenhance the river environment. Developments should look at opportunities for river restorationand enhancement as part of the development. Options include backwater creation, de-silting, inchannelhabitat enhancement and removal of structures. When designed properly, suchmeasures can have benefits such as reducing the costs of maintaining hard engineeringstructures, reducing flood risk, improving water quality and increasing biodiversity. Socialbenefits are also gained by increasing green space and access to the river.8.10.2 Buffer StripsAs a minimum, developers should set back development eight metres from the landward toe offluvial defences or top of bank where defences do not exist. This provides a buffer strip to ‘makespace for water’, allow additional capacity to accommodate climate change and ensure access todefences is maintained for maintenance purposes.For watercourses classed as ‘Main River’ a minimum eight metre easement from the top of bankis recommended for maintenance purposes to avoid disturbing riverbanks, benefiting ecologyand having to construct engineered riverbank protection. Building adjacent to riverbanks canalso cause problems to the structural integrity of the riverbanks and the building, making futuremaintenance of the river much more difficult.8.10.3 Drainage CapacityThe capacity of internal drainage infrastructure is often limited and is at or near capacity underexisting conditions. Development that leads to increased peak runoff within the drainagecatchments may lead to infrastructure capacity being exceeded, with the potential for increased2012s5947 S Worcestershire Level 2 SFRA Update FINAL Report v1.0.doc 179