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Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD

Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD – adopted November 2016

Adoption and Maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems in South Cambridgeshire – agreed in November 2016 as Council Policy to be used as a material consideration when considering planning applications

The SPD was re-adopted by South Cambridgeshire District Council in November 2018 and by the Cambridge City Council in December 2018. This followed the adoption of the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Plans.

What are SPDs?

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) are intended to expand upon policy or provide further detail to policies in adopted Development Plan Documents (DPDs). When adopted, SPDs form part of the Local Development Framework but do not have development plan status and are not subject to independent examination.

What is the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD?

A significant amount of new development will occur in Cambridgeshire over the next 20 years and beyond. In order to reduce the impact of these developments on the water environment, national planning policy and guidance and local planning policies, included in the Development Control Policies DPD, require that new development must be appropriately located, well designed, and managed to take account of climate change and flood risk.

The Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD has been prepared by Cambridgeshire County Council (as the Lead Local Flood Authority) in conjunction with the other Cambridgeshire local planning authorities.

The SPD provides guidance on the approach that should be taken to design new developments to manage and mitigate flood risk and include sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). SuDS mimic natural drainage to manage surface water run-off and can also deliver wider benefits such as providing green areas for biodiversity and recreation.

Chapter 6 of the SPD (section 6.9) sets out guidance on the adoption and maintenance of SuDS. South Cambridgeshire District Council will not generally adopt or maintain SuDS, and therefore the Adoption and Maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems in South Cambridgeshire sets out what needs to be provided by an applicant as part of any planning application in South Cambridgeshire that includes SuDS to demonstrate that suitable adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place.

Latest News on the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD

We adopted the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD on 8 November 2016. The Adoption and Maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems in South Cambridgeshire was agreed in November 2016 as Council Policy to be used as a material consideration when considering planning applications.

The adopted SPD takes account of the representations received during the six-week period of public consultation undertaken in September – October 2015. A schedule of all representations received is provided in Annex B of the Consultation Statement. The schedule provides a summary of each representation received in document order together with our assessment of them and, where appropriate, sets out amendments to the text of the SPD.

The SPD has been subject to Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment.

Cambridgeshire County Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority, endorsed the SPD in July 2016, but will not formally be adopting the SPD. East Cambridgeshire District Council adopted the SPD on 16 November 2016. Fenland District Council adopted the SPD on 15 December 2016. Huntingdonshire District Council adopted the SPD on 20 April 2017. Member(s) at Cambridge City Council agreed the responses to the consultation and proposed changes to the SPD in December 2016, with a recommendation that the SPD is adopted alongside their Local Plan.

Adoption Documents

If you have any further queries about the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD, please contact the Planning Policy Team at ldf@scambs.gov.uk or call us on 01954 713183.