All planning applications objected to by the Environment Agency on flood risk grounds between 01/04/2015 and 31/03/2016in England

We have provided below a list of the objections lodged on Flood Risk Grounds to assist Local Authorities who are completing their annual monitoring reports. The list is designed to be as inclusive as possible and produced yearly. It is not updated to take account of any additional comments/consultation responses after the initial objection as the Local Authority records are more complete than ours – it provides a starting point for Local Planning Authorities to check their own records.

The “Reason for Objection” referred to in this document are:

Adverse Impact on Surface Water Run-Off / If the quantity surface water run-off from the site is likely to be changed for the worse we use this objection
Culverting (Flood Risk) / Culverts can back up flows in a watercourse in times of flood. We use this objection if this is an issue on the site
Insufficient Info - Flood Risk / We use this when we do not have enough information to assess the risk properly
Loss of access to the development / We use this objection when the Environment Agency needs access to the development site to undertake our statutory duties and believe this access is threatened
Loss of Flood Storage / We use this objection when the development is likely to push flood waters elsewhere
Loss/Restricted Access to Watercourse / The Environment Agency has statutory duties to maintain some watercourses. We use this objection if the access to the watercourse to undertake these duties is threatened by a development
No Dry Access / It is important to get access to buildings at all times in case of emergency, and we use this objection where there is no way to do this
Part C of Exception Test not passed / PPS25 (Planning Policy Statement 25) includes an exception test which suggests development should be permitted in certain cases despite the flood risk. We use this exception when we believe those cases where Part C has not been demonstrated
PPG25/TAN15 - Request for FRA/FCA / PPS25 applies in England and TAN15 (Technical Advice Note 15) applies in Wales. They require a Flood Risk Assessment, or Flood Consequence Assessment in Wales, for a development before planning permission is granted. If this has not been provided then we use this objection
Reduction in flood risk not incorporated in FRA / PPS25 requires the FRA to demonstrate a reduction in flood risk, and we use this objection when that is not the case
Risk to Flood Defences / We use this objection when existing flood defences may be compromised by the development
Risk to the Development / Generic objections used to indicate that the site is at risk of being inundated with flood water
Sequential Test not adequately demonstrated and Sequential Test: Vulnerability not appropriate to Flood Zone / PPS25 uses the concept of a sequential test which looks at sites of increasing flood risk sequentially, and steers development to the least risky sites. We use these objections when the test has not been applied appropriately.
Site Liable to Erosion / If the site is likely to erode then we use this objection
Unsatisfactory FRA/FCA Submitted / We use this objection when the technical assessment of the FRA/FCA shows it to be inadequate
EA Reference / LPA Reference / Nature of Proposed Development / Proposal Description / Objection reason
NO/2016/108523 / 7/2015/2304 / Residential - Minor / The refurbishment and rebuild of the existing dilapidated boathouse to reinstate the existing mooring and convert the first floor to form a holiday let (resubmission 7/2014/2173) / Unsatisfactory FRA/FCA Submitted

All planning applications objected to by the Environment Agency on water quality grounds between 01/04/2015 and 31/03/2016 in England

EA Reference / LPA Reference / Nature of Proposed Development / Proposal Description / Objection reason
NO/2016/108451 / 7/2015/5736 / Mixed use - Major / Installation of new septic tank (to replace exisiting septic tank, but in a revised location) / Non-mains drainage – unacceptable risk to groundwater/surface

7/2015/2304 Officers Report - Environment Agency initially objected to the application as the submitted Flood Risk Assessment did not take into account the December 2015 flood events. Following the submission of further plans and details showing the December 2015 flood level in relation to the proposed development, the Environment Agency have withdrawn their objections, subject to conditions requiring the development to be constructed in accordance with the applicant’s Flood Risk Assessment.

7/2015/5736 Officers Report - The Environment Agency initially objected to the application on the grounds that connection to the mains sewer should be the preferred means of foul drainage. There has been extensive contact since between the Agency and the applicant’s agents and I am now advised that Environment Agency are happy with the current proposals, discharging secondary treated effluent from a package treatment plant to a drainage mound all located outside of the flood zone.