The Environment Agency has the responsibility of protecting people and the developed environment from flooding by providing effective defences and protecting the flood plain. The Council will consult the Environment Agency on proposals for any site in proximity to a watercourse or in an area deemed to be at flood risk. Flood Risk Assessments will be required to accompany planning applications for development within Flood risk zones.
Environment Agency Flood Risk Information is available on their web site and there are maps that show the flood risk zones.
Flood risk zones are areas of land over which water flows in times of flood. They can arise as a result of rivers and streams being unable to carry flows caused by excess rainfall, they can also arise from run-off where the ground is unable to absorb any more water. They perform a natural and essential function of storing water during such times. Flooding can also occur from sewers that become overloaded and "surcharge". Development within the flood plain, is not only itself at risk from flooding but by reducing the amount of land available for flood storage, and by impeding flood flows, can increase the risk of flooding off-site and sometimes in remote locations.
Flood compensation schemes may be acceptable but must be carried out to fully accommodate flood flows and storage. Any such scheme should be fully discussed with the Environment Agency before a planning application is made. Consultation should also be undertaken with the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board depending on the location of the scheme (around the Oxted and Lingfield areas).
The Council is currently preparing a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, as required by Planning Policy Statement 25 Flood Risk which is the Government's guidance on development and flood risk that was issued in December 2006. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment will be added to this page when it is available.
For more information on Flood Warnings see the Council's Flooding and land drainage web page.
