Flooding and planning application requirements
Policy 35 of our City Plan 2019-2040 sets out the approach to managing flood risk in Westminster.
Flood risk assessment
If your application is for a property in a flood risk zone or surface water flood risk hotspot, a flood risk assessment may be required as set out in our validation checklists.
You can use the interactive policies map to check if you are in a flood risk area or surface water flood risk hotspot.
You can see the Environment Agency's Advice on Flood Risk Assessments. For residential and non-residential extensions of less than 250 square metres in Flood Risk Zones 2 and 3, visit GOV.UK for advice.
If your application does require a FRA, you may need to contact a consultant to prepare it for you.
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDs) strategies
Major applications must be accompanied by a sustainable drainage strategy. To show how your major development complies with Westminster and National Planning Policy, you should submit the drainage pro forma with your sustainable drainage strategy at the time of validation:
To fill in Westminster's proforma, please see the London Sustainable Drainage Proforma website.
You can use these tools to help design and evaluate sustainable drainage systems.
Further advice on Flood Risk and requirements can be found in our Environmental SPD.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
Our Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2023 is intended to provide an assessment of all sources of flooding, required for consideration under the National Planning Policy Framework within Westminster, taking account of the impacts of climate change.
The SFRA assesses the impact that land use changes and development in the area may have on flood risk. It also sets out a number of approaches to avoid, reduce, mitigate and manage this risk as part of a wider objective to ensure sustainable development.
- Report: SFRA 2023
- Appendix A: Mapping
- Appendix B: FRA and Drainage Strategy Requirements
- Appendix C: FRA and Drainage Strategy Checklists for Planning Applications
Flood risk strategies and further advice
You may also need to refer to the following:
