Broads businesses urged to give views on new flood planning policy

Added: 31/01/2008
Category: Broads Authority

The Broads Authority is encouraging Broads businesses to provide evidence if they think their livelihoods would suffer if national planning policy on flood risk areas is adopted in the Broads.

The Authority is concerned that the national planning policy on flood risk, PPS25, which aims to reduce the risk of flooding to people and property by preventing development and replacement buildings by the water, would lead to economic blight in the Broads.

The Authority, which is currently reviewing its planning polices, has drafted a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on Development and Flood Risk which is adapted to the needs of the Broads. It is urging Broads businesses to feed into the public consultation on this document by February 11th.

The Authority also plans to carry out a survey of businesses so that the economic value to this part of Norfolk and Suffolk’s economy can be measured.

Gillian Morgan, Director of Planning and Development, said: “Broads communities have inevitably developed over the years close to water and the risk of flooding has becoming very much a part of living and working in the area.

“The national policy will have severe implications for the Broads as it will not only restrict development that is vital to the economic sustainability of the area but may also cause planning blight. Much of the economy of the Broads is water or wetland related and the decline in recreation and tourism is of concern to the Broads Authority, businesses, residents and the wider population of Norfolk and Suffolk.

“The Authority must provide evidence to support the change to national policy, so we are encouraging Broads businesses to feed into the consultation if they want to develop their sites in future.”

The Broads Authority has revised the classification of water-compatible development for the Broads based on the economic needs of the area. The policies aim to ensure that the flood risk is minimised and consistent with the needs of a wetland area.

The consultation documents can be found on www.broads-authority.gov.uk Focus On Development and Flood Risk SDP. The public are also invited to have their say on the Authority’s general Development Control Polices. The consultation closes on February 11th.