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Flood Risk Assessment - What is the Sequential Test?
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Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPS25) sets out national planning guidance in relation to flood risk. PPS25 requires Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to take a sequential risk-based approach to determine the suitability of land for development when allocating sites in the Local Development Framework (LDF) or determining planning applications. Through the application of the sequential test, the overarching aim of PPS25 is to steer development to areas at low risk from flooding. PPS25 articulates a presumption in favour of locating new development in Flood Zone 1 (low probability). If there are no reasonably available sites in Flood Zone 1, the flood vulnerability of the proposed development can be taken into account in locating development in Flood Zone 2 (medium probability) and then Flood Zone 3 (3a high probability and 3b functional floodplain). The Sequential Test aims to ensure that development does not take place in areas at high risk of flooding when appropriate areas of lower risk are reasonably available. |
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Paragraph 19 of PPS25 recognises the fact that wider sustainable development criteria may require the development of some land that cannot be delivered through the sequential test. In these circumstances, the Exception Test can be applied to some developments depending on their vulnerability classification (Table D.2 of PPS25). The Exception Test provides a method of managing flood risk while still allowing necessary development to occur.
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