In 2024, the Planning workstream worked with programme partners and wider industry to increase its understanding of the legal and policy context around groundwater flooding. It developed a set of principles for managing groundwater flooding in the planning system, and started work on a planning guidance document, for use by everyone in the industry.
2024
Understanding the issues that affect groundwater flood risk and planning
This year, we began to explore our understanding of the legal and policy contexts governing groundwater flood risk and planning, and the challenges and opportunities associated with its delivery.
Our research, which built on some earlier scoping work, was carried out through our Planning Working Group. It included meetings and workshops with flood risk and planning professionals in our partner local authorities, technical experts and local community groups.
We also reached out to the wider industry for additional input, and we facilitated workshops with the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), and at the 2024 Flood and Coast Conference.
Underpinning principles for managing groundwater flood risk in the planning system
In 2024 we developed a set of principles and approaches for managing groundwater flood risk. We worked with other Project Groundwater technical working groups to understand the key characteristics and behaviours of groundwater flood risk and how these affect our ability to manage it. We then developed a set of principles and approaches to underpin how groundwater flooding risk can be managed effectively. These principles are now being further developed, specifically for application in the planning process.
Influencing locally and wider
We continued to educate and influence others throughout 2024. Our early review of literature and feedback from the Planning Working Group showed a significant lack of understanding, and neglect, of groundwater flood risk, in the development planning system. To begin to address this, we delivered presentations and discussions with organisations including CIWEM’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Technical Panel, The Association of Drainage Authorities (ASA) and the Chiltern Society.
We also inputted to planning consultations. This included providing formal responses to two Project Groundwater area Neighbourhood Plan consultations for Lambourn and Chesham, and the National Planning Policy Framework consultation. Each consultation response highlighted current failings in addressing groundwater flood risk and highlighted opportunities for enhancement.
A plan to develop new guidance on groundwater flood risk
In 2024, we began working on a plan to develop guidance for people who assess groundwater flood risk in the planning system.
With our increasing understanding of the legislation and policy requirements for groundwater flood risk, and recognising a lack of implementation on the ground, we identified the key stakeholders, and explored what new guidance might look like.
We then worked with other Project workstreams to understand the new information they were developing on flood risk and its management, such as flood hazard maps, nature-based solutions, and resilience measures. We expect the plan to be finalised in early 2025, with the guidance itself finished later in the year.
We delivered presentations and discussions throughout the year to educate and influence
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2025
In 2025, we will test our principles and approaches for managing groundwater flood risk with future users, and assess their effectiveness. We will finalise our plans and produce our groundwater flood risk and planning guidance. We will also continue to work hard raising awareness about groundwater flooding amongst key stakeholders.
Develop and test principles and approaches
During 2025, we will extend the principles and approaches we developed for managing groundwater flood risk by looking at how they might apply in a planning context. We will test our thinking through our Planning Working Group and through wider engagement. We will ensure that the principles and approaches are applicable at all stages of planning, for example, in planning strategies, Local Plans, and neighbourhood developments.
Widening engagement around the plan for new guidance
Engagement around our plan for the groundwater flood risk and planning guidance needs to reach all key parties involved with development planning and flood risk. To date it has been a challenge to engage developers and so obtaining their feedback will be a key focus for us next year.
Develop, test, and assess the new guidance
Having finalised our plans in early 2025, we will then begin developing the groundwater flood risk and planning guidance in earnest. Our work will specifically address ‘how’ to best consider groundwater flood risk in the planning process, in accordance with the principles and approaches we have developed.
Our work will link strongly to the outcomes of the Modelling workstream on understanding current and future groundwater flooding risk, and the Placemaking Nature-based Solution and Resilience workstreams on the best ways to manage it. We will also use case studies and illustrations to bring the guidance to life.
Influencing those who can effect changes
In 2025 we will continue our influencing activities to increase awareness of the issues surrounding groundwater flood risk and planning, and the changes that we feel are required.
Our focus will be on those who can affect legislation and planning policy will include the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG); The Environment Agency and Defra. It will also include groups whose members can effect change in delivery, for example The Royal Town Planning Institute; House Builders Federation; Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT); Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and Association (CIWEM); and Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA).
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