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Designing planning and housing data

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Planning consideration

Flood storage areas

Areas that act as a balancing reservoir, storage basin or balancing pond for flood control

Design stage
Test and iterate
Tags

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Synonyms
  • flood storage area
Legislation
No legislation added
Expected number of records
509
Frequency of updates
Quarterly
Useful links
Technical specification
No specification added

Background information

Each planning consideration we work on passes through the stages of our design process, where we research and answer specific questions to help us collect more information.

Backlog

  • Who asked for 'Flood storage areas' data?

    The Geospatial Commission has published a list of 65 open datasets that they believe are used during the housing and planning process. This includes Flood Storage areas.

  • What is the driver for the request?

    Other

  • Which 2024 focus area does the request support?

    • Modern planning software

Screen

  • What is the 'Flood storage areas' consideration?

    The Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This dataset covers Flood Storage Areas. It shows those areas that act as a balancing reservoir, storage basin or balancing pond. Their purpose is to attenuate an incoming flood peak to a flow level that can be accepted by the downstream channel. It may also delay the timing of a flood peak so that its volume is discharged over a longer time interval. We have assumed that flood storage areas act perfectly and give the same level of protection as when our assessment of the area was carried out. Flood storage areas do not completely remove the chance of flooding and can be overtopped or fail in extreme weather conditions.

    This dataset is designed to raise awareness of the likelihood of flooding and to encourage people living and working in areas prone to flooding to find out more and take appropriate action.

  • Is there legislation that defines 'Flood storage areas'?

  • Who, in law, is responsible for the planning consideration or makes decisions about 'Flood storage areas'?

    The Environment Agency

  • Which organisations do we think should publish the data?

    • Environment Agency

  • Is the Flood storage areas a trigger?

    No

  • Is the Flood storage areas something to consult during plan making?

    Yes

    • Provide information about when Flood storage areas is used during plan making

      This dataset may be consulted when considering development.

  • Is there any Flood storage areas data already available?

    Yes

  • Do we think the data should come from a single source?

    Yes, the Environment Agency

  • Will a data standard be required?

    No

Research

  • Do we understand the lifecycle of a Flood storage areas?

    No

  • Do we understand how the data is created/produced?

    N/A

  • Where will or should the data be used?

  • It is part of the 'Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea)' data that the Environment Agency shares

  • Who are the statutory consultees for Flood storage areas?

    The Environment Agency

  • Other than the statutory consultees who are the primary users of Flood storage areas? How do we expect them to use Flood storage areas?

    N/A

  • What are the planning needs for this data?

    This dataset is useful to understand existing land use of a flood storage area, as well as the presence of this type of flood defence, when considering development.

  • Who are the types of users who might benefit from having access to Flood storage areas data?

    N/A

  • What are some potential uses of Flood storage areas data?

    N/A

  • What's the value of adding Flood storage areas data to the platform?

    N/A

  • From what we have learnt so far are there any risks to making Flood storage areas data available?

    N/A

1 update

Last updated: 2025-09-11 10:17:04