Introduction to SFRA

Introduction

Along with the six districts, we commissioned Halcrow to produce a Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS 25). The outputs from the SFRA give us the necessary information to inform the Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF) to ensure due regard is paid to flood risk in the creation of policies and plans. A level one SFRA has been produced for each of the seven local authorities involved.

The aim of the SFRA is to map all forms of flood risk and use this as an evidence base to locate new development primarily in low flood risk areas (Zone 1). Areas of 'low' (zone 1), 'medium' (zone 2) and 'high' (zone 3) risk are mapped using data collected from many sources, including the Environment Agency (Midlands and Thames regions), Gloucestershire Highways, Severn Trent, British Waterways as well as the six district councils.

Whilst the Level 1 SFRA is primarily a desk based study, it has incorporated new data from the 2007 floods. It will allow us to assess the proposed mineral and waste site allocations within the flood risk vulnerability and flood zone compatibility as outlined in PPS 25 and how the 'Sequential and Exception Test' should be applied. The 'Sequential Test' is a sieving process, allocating as many sites as possible that avoid zones 2 and 3.