Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - South Worcestershire ...

Executive SummaryThis report is an update to the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy Strategic Flood RiskAssessment (SFRA) published in 2009. The study area comprises Wychavon District, MalvernHills District and Worcester City which, for the purposes of planning, are known as SouthWorcestershire. This SFRA update had been prepared in accordance with current best practice,the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Technical Guidance and uses the bestavailable data at the time.The SFRA constitutes one of a number of planning tools that enables the Local Authorities toselect and develop sustainable site allocations away from areas of greatest vulnerability offlooding in the South Worcestershire Area. The assessment includes allocations sites that areproposed for the South Worcestershire Development Plan, with detailed assessment undertakenfor any sites shown at risk from Flood Zones 2 or 3.The report discusses the flood risk within South Worcestershire area as a while, allowing aninformed decision to be taken when allocating future development sites, and sets out theprocedure to be followed when assessing sites in the future. The SFRA update will form part ofthe evidence base used to inform the Development Plan and assist the local authorities to makethe spatial planning decisions required.Changes to high level planning, policy and guidance since the previous SFRA have beenidentified and taken into account in preparing this SFRA update.A review of existing information and execution of additional flood modelling work has identifiedthe level of flood risk in the South Worcestershire area from fluvial and other sources. Anassessment of the impact of climate change on flood risk in the catchment has also beenassessed. A review of flood defences has been undertaken to determine any changes since theissue of the previous version of the SFRA.The Flood Map for Surface Water has been used in this SFRA to determine the level of risk fromsurface water. This is consistent with the Local Agreed Surface Water Information used in theWorcestershire Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment.Maps and GIS layers have been provided with the report showing the extents of Flood Zones 2,3a and 3b, and the effects of climate change of Flood Zone 3a.An overview of flood risk within South Worcestershire has been undertaken, allowing theCouncils to apply the Sequential Test. This SFRA update provides advice on any site-specificrequirements for a flood risk assessment, and advises the Councils on the use of the ExceptionTest should the Sequential Test be passed.In addition, concise outlines have been included that describe the requirements of developerspreparing Flood Risk Assessments, with supporting guidance on reducing flood risk and makingdevelopment safe, including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and flood mitigationmeasures. Advice is also given on environmental improvement opportunities and other issues toconsider as part of a development proposal.2012s5947 S Worcestershire Level 2 SFRA Update FINAL Report v1.0.docv