Flood Risk and Drainage

Flood risk from all sources must be considered when any development is to be carried out and there are various ways in which flood risk is assessed in order to ascertain what the flooding constraints to a development site may be.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Level 1 (November 2015)

The SFRA consists of a main report together with some appendices, including the SFRA maps showing sites overlaid with the latest, readily available, gathered flood risk information, and site assessment spreadsheets indicating the level of flood risk to each site following a strategic assessment of risk. The main report and appendices are available to download and view below. The maps are available to view via an interactive map.

SFRA Level 1 - Main Report: Download (3.29MB)

SFRA - Interactive Map (Appendix A) - Please note, these data sets can only ever be ‘point-in-time’ as data and information on flood risk is continually evolving. The SFRA Level 1 was developed using the most up-to-date data and information available at the time of preparation. The SFRA has been future proofed as far as possible though the reader should always confirm with the source organisation that the latest information is being used when decisions concerning development and flood risk are being made.

SFRA Level 1 - Development Site Assessment Spreadsheet - (Appendix B): Download (825KB)

SFRA Level 1 - Development Site Assessment Spreadsheet - Residual Risk - Appendix B1: Download (761KB)

SFRA Level 1 - Functional Flood Plain and SFRA Flood Zone Definition - Appendix C: Download (190KB)

SFRA Level 2 (Latest Position)

Following publication of the Level 1 SFRA in November 2015, the Council commissioned JBA Consulting to prepare a Level 2 SFRA for the borough. However, there are significant limitations as to what further work can be undertaken to understand the residual flood risks to the borough in more detail until further hydraulic modelling is completed by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency are updating several hydraulic river models in and around the Doncaster area as many of the existing models are considered out of date. These updates will be used to update the Environment Agency's Flood Risk Map for Planning and also the functional flood plain. One of the main outcomes of a full Level 2 SFRA should be to provide evidence that is needed for an assessment of feasibility (and contribute to viability assessment) of development sites as well as ensuring that the sites will be safe for their lifetime. As such, there is insufficient evidence available to produce an adoptable NPPF compliant Level 2 study for the time being. The Council acknowledges the current limitations and is committed to producing a Level 2 SFRA once the Environment Agency’s modelling updates are completed at the earliest opportunity.

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

New Planning Policy was introduced as from 6 April 2015, in relation to providing SuDS for new developments where appropriate.

Any Major development has to ensure that SuDS systems are in place for the management of surface water, unless demonstrated to be inappropriate. Also, Doncaster Council as Lead Local Flood Authority is now also a statutory consultee on planning applications for the management of surface water, as from the 15 April 2015.

To assist applicants, the following documentation has been produced: