PPS25 (Development and Flood Risk) Sequential Test

Guidance to applicants.

1. PPS25 guidance instructs that when proposing developments in the flood plain (zones 2 and 3), developers must demonstrate that there are no sequentially preferable sites for the proposal.
2. When analysing other sites, the whole of the Borough should be considered.
3. Consideration should be given to the sites allocated for residential development in: The Local Plan 1997; First Deposit Draft Local Plan 2001; Plan entitled Housing Sites in Ipswich with 10 or more units, 31 March 2007; Housing Land Availability 1 April 2006, and Supporting Paper: Housing Delivery in Ipswich August 2006.
   Consideration of sites of a similar size comprising Preferred Options in the Local Development Framework should also be assessed.
   All of these documents, apart from the Housing Sites Plan, can be viewed in the Planning Policy section of this website.
4. Sequentially preferable sites will be those in flood zone 1 suitable for the development proposed, with planning permission and/or allocated for residential development in the Local Plans, and which are genuinely available.
5. Further guidance on carrying out the Sequential Test is given in the attached pro forma and in Table 1.3 and Figure 3.1 of the Living Draft Practice Guide Companion to PPS25.

This approach to PPS25 is supported by the Environment Agency.

Steve Miller
Development Control Manager
Ipswich Borough Council