Information for planners and developers

Guidance on drainage strategy requirements for planning applications to ensure effective flood risk management.

Last updated: 4th February

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 

This has been superseded by the National SuDS Standards, National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Policy Guidance

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.

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.

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
  • Site location plan (1:1250) with site boundary in red
  • Description of proposed scheme
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
  • Drainage strategy / flood risk assessment with relevant appendices
  • Staffordshire SuDS handbook (Appendix A)
  • Staffordshire SuDS handbook (Appendix C if relevant)
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
  • Drainage strategy / flood risk assessment with relevant appendices
  • Staffordshire SuDS handbook (Appendix A)
  • Staffordshire SuDS handbook (Appendix C if relevant)
  • Phasing schedule for larger sites with multiple phases and shared drainage infrastructure (if required)

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.