Local planning authorities and developers should read the documents on this page. Doing so may help when contacting us or submitting an application.
SuDS handbook
We provide this advice to local planning authorities, who then decide whether to approve planning applications. To support this, we’ve created more detailed local guidance for developers and planning authorities. This is in addition to the national guidance already available.
Our new handbook explains how the local planning process works. It also gives guidance and standards for designing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), and outlines what we expect in drainage strategies for major developments.
Please use the SuDS handbook to understand our standards and see what information you need to provide to show that your plans meet them.
Appendix A and Appendix C should be completed and submitted with the planning application.
We carried out the consultation for the SuDS Handbook following the same process used for consulting on a Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in the revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).
The statement below explains how we met the SCI’s requirements by engaging with the relevant organisations and individuals. Please note, this consultation was only carried out for the Staffordshire version of the handbook.
Consultation statement (PDF, 958 KB)
Proforma for small residential major development
If your proposed development is less than 1 hectare in size, in Flood Zone 1, and has no known surface water issues, you should complete the form below and include it with your planning application.
Proforma for small residential major development (Word, 79 KB)
This will allow LPAs to assess applications more efficiently and ensure that flood risk is not increased and, where possible, is reduced.
Household and minor extensions
If your proposed development is a domestic or non-domestic extension and the additional footprint is 250 square metres or less, you should follow the guidance in the document below.
Extensions guidance (PDF, 355 KB)
It should not be applied if an additional dwelling is being created, e.g. a self-contained 'granny annex'.
Standing advice
Where a proposed development does not reach the consultation criteria, the local planning authority can apply our standing advice as appropriate.
Lead local flood authority consultation criteria (PDF, 26 KB)
The documents on this page are reviewed regularly. Please check them often to help ensure planning consultations follow best practice.
Pre-application advice
The flood team offers a pre-application advice service for developments in Staffordshire. You can access this service through our online payment system.
See below for more information about the services we provide.
| Product | Description | Fee | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood risk data request | A site check based on our analysis and interpretation of mapped data, with additional local knowledge where available*. | £180 + VAT |
|
| Review of draft drainage strategy (small development, up to 200 houses) |
Review of draft FRA/Drainage Strategy for smaller developments*. Includes one meeting, initial discussions and comments on minor changes #. | £360 + VAT |
|
| Review of draft drainage strategy (large development; 200+ houses) |
Review of draft FRA/Drainage Strategy for larger developments*. Includes one meeting, initial discussions and comments on minor changes #. | £840 + VAT |
|
Notes
We’ll provide a written response within 21 working days of receiving all the information needed to process your request. The response time depends on how detailed the information you provide is.
Site visits are charged at an additional cost of £150+VAT per visit.
We may charge again if the drainage strategy is resubmitted with major changes after our initial comments, or if we are asked to review it more than once.
To request pre-application advice, please place an order using the developer advice online form.
The documents on this page are reviewed regularly. Please check them often to help ensure planning consultations follow best practice.