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    Development & Consent

    Working with Planning Authorities

    Involvement in the Planning Process

    By engaging with the planning process the WMA Member Boards are seeking to:

    • Reduce flood risk to communities within its Internal Drainage District and highland catchment.
    • Promote sustainable development in sustainable locations by supporting sound planning decisions that can be implemented by applicants and developers.
    • Reduce the potential for conflict between the planning process and an Internal Drainage Board’s (IDB’s) regulatory process.
    • Develop an understanding within other authorities and third parties of the flood risk and capacity issues within IDB areas so they can be considered through the planning process.
    • Make a contribution towards the achievement of Sustainable Development, as per Section 27 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

    Commenting on a Planning Applications

    Although IDBs are not statutory consultees in the planning process, the WMA Member Boards will aim to proactively review and comment on applications which may impact on flood risk and water management within a Board’s Internal Drainage District (IDD) in one or more of the following ways:

    • The site is adjacent to drainage infrastructure, including Arterial Watercourses
    • Works may be proposed to alter any Ordinary Watercourse
    • The proposals may introduce water to the IDD
    • The area is known to suffer from poor drainage

    To consult a member board (IDB) as a Local Planning Authority, please email: planning@wlma.org.uk

    Standing Advice

    Each WMA Member Board has approved the following standing advice to assist Local Planning Authorities and applicants alike.

    Development with an Internal Drainage District

    This standing advice applies where the proposed development site is near to, or within, the Internal Drainage District (IDD) of a Member Internal Drainage Board
    (IDB) of the Water Management Alliance.

    Please see our mapping pages for detailed maps of each Board’s District, including which drains are designated as an arterial watercourses in each District. In order to avoid conflict between the planning process and the relevant Board’s regulatory regime and consenting process please be aware of the following:

    • If the site is within a Member IDBs district, that Board’s byelaws apply.
    • If the proposals include works to alter a watercourse (including culverting for access) consent is required under Section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991.
    • If the site is within an IDD the relevant IDB is the consenting authority for these works. If outside an IDD, the County Council (Lead Local Flood Authority) is the consenting authority.
    • If a surface water (or treated foul water) discharge is proposed to a watercourse within an IDD, then the proposed development will require a land drainage consent in line with the Board’s byelaws.
    • If the proposals include works within 9* metres of an arterial watercourse, then the proposed development will require a land drainage consent in line with the Board’s byelaws.
    • If the applicant has proposed to manage surface water by infiltration, this should be supported by ground investigation to confirm the viability of infiltration and an understanding of the expected groundwater levels.

    Where land drainage consent is required from a WMA Member Board, please see the relevant policy on our Land Drainage Consents webpages.
    Whilst the consenting process as set out under the Land Drainage Act 1991 and the Board’s Byelaws are separate from planning, the ability to implement a planning permission may be dependent on the granting of these consents. As such we strongly recommend that any required consents are sought prior to determination of the planning application.

    * 7 metres within the Waveney, Lower Yare and Lothingland IDD