Skip to content

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government updated the National Planning Guidance for Flood Risk and Coastal Change on 25th August 2022. The document has been comprehensively re-written and contains a series of changes to the flood considerations for development, with the primary focus on the impact of climate change for all types of flooding.

Under the new guidance:

  • A sequential test will need to be undertaken on all risk of flooding categories (fluvial, surface water, groundwater and reservoir) that impacts the site.
  • When undertaking a sequential test, flood defenses can no longer be used as a method of removing the flood risk from a development site.
  • Five year land supply issues are specifically mentioned as a reason not to be considered for the non-application of the sequential test.

The new legislation has far more emphasis on assessing flooding impact both now and in the future. This will directly impact the content of our Flood Risk Assessments which will now have to respond directly to these heightened criteria.

Get in touch to see how our team can help you navigate this new guidance in relation to your developments.

Technical Director, Land, Development and Communities Group

Dean Swann

Read Profile
Project Consultant – Flood Risk and Drainage

Katherine Peers

Read Profile
Lee Witts in a pale blue shirt and Brookbanks gillet sat in front of a pink bacground
Group Director for Land, Development and Communities

Lee Witts

Read Profile

More News

From above electronic calculator and notepad placed over United States dollar bills together with metallic pen for budget planning and calculation

Webinar Summary: Section 106 Contributions: Purpose & Recovery

December 17, 2025

Section 106 (S106) agreements play a vital role in shaping sustainable communities by ensuring that developments contribute to essential infrastructure and services. However, recent research highlights a growing challenge: billions of pounds in developer contributions remain unspent by local authorities. At Brookbanks, we believe understanding the purpose of these agreements, and how to recover unspent funds, is critical for developers and stakeholders alike.

Read More
bridge, stone bridge, bordeaux, coat of arms, napoleon, france, vacations, blue hour, evening atmosphere

Building Smarter from the Start

December 15, 2025

At Brookbanks, we know that time and budget are often the defining factors in any project. That’s why we focus on delivering timely, value-driven outcomes through smarter design strategies.

Read More