Object

Representation ID: 19487

Received: 24/02/2009

Respondent: Environment Agency

Currently the Strategy links developing outside of flood areas with decline in economic activity in general. It would be the case that for development proposed within Flood Zones 2 or 3 a Sequential Test would need to be satisfied if the principle of development on any particular site were to be accepted. This would ensure that development is directed away from areas at highest risk of flooding. In this case, any development on the site would need to meet the Exception Test which includes the justification of achieving wider sustainability benefits, which would include regeneration and economic development. See Recommendation 13.

Remove Paragraph 12.42 as the justification for developing sites within flood risk areas will be established through the application of PPS25 using the Sequential Test and where appropriate the Exception Test. This will ensure that the relationship between flood risk, economic development and sustainability is properly represented.