What you need to do to deal with flood risk and drainage and how we're managing flood risk in Bristol.
When we make a decision on a planning application we'll consider flood risk and draining issues.
It's more likely that we'll approve your planning application if the development:
- will be built on land with a lower flood risk
- complies with all national sustainable drainage system (SuDS) standards
Flood risk areas in Bristol
To see areas of Bristol that are at risk of river and tidal flooding, you can look at a flood map at the Environment Agency website.
You can also look at maps of areas with a high risk of surface water flooding in the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), and view studies on flood risk in some parts of Bristol, on our planning evidence page.
Development in flood risk areas
If you're carrying out development in a known flood risk area, there may be restrictions to make sure the development will be safe while it is in use.
We have pdf draft Local Plan Policies FR1 and FR2(4.55 MB) to help applicants and communities assess how flood risk can be managed through development in Bristol.
If your application requires you to undertake a Sequential Test, our pdf Flood Risk Sequential Test Practice Note (pdf, 2.12 MB)(2.12 MB) provides advice and guidance on how to carry this out, and what information you'll need to submit in support of the application.
You'll need to do a Flood Risk Assessment as part of your planning application if your proposed application site is in a flood risk area or is larger than one hectare in size. Find out more at Flood Risk Assessments (GOV.UK).
If your development site has an impact on drainage, then a Sustainable Drainage Assessment is required. This will show that you have followed national and local policies. It should also explain how you'll maintain your sustainable drainage system. If you get pre-application advice from us, more detailed comments will be provided when an outline drainage plan is provided.
What to do about surface water drainage
You should consider surface water drainage at the start of your design process, as it is likely this will influence the rest of your design.
You need to use water management measures when carrying out development. This is to reduce surface water runoff and make sure it doesn't increase the flood risk in other areas.
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are a way of managing surface water to reduce the risk of flooding and deal with any pollution in the water.
All new developments should use SuDS where possible and you should submit a SuDS strategy with your planning application. There are national standards for SuDS; your application should show how you have met each of the 7 standards.
You should look at the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Level 1 reports on our planning evidence and monitoring page and the West of England Sustainable Drainage Developer Guide for supporting information before preparing your planning application:
- pdf West of England Sustainable Drainage Developer Guide Section 1(2.76 MB)
- pdf West of England Sustainable Drainage Developer Guide Section 2: Bristol Local Sustainable Drainage Design Guidance(2.95 MB)
- pdf West of England Sustainable Drainage Developer Guide Section 2 Annex: Bristol Local Sustainable Drainage Design Guidance Note(827 KB)
How we're managing flood risk in Bristol
Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area project
We've worked with the Environment Agency and South Gloucestershire Council to improve flood defences. This was part of the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project.
Avon Riversides 2100
The Avon Riversides 2100 project sets out a strategic long-term plan for managing flood risk from the River Avon to Bristol and its neighbouring communities. Find out more on the Avon Riversides 2100 website.