To avoid, reduce and delay the discharge of rainfall to public sewers and watercourses, thereby minimising the risk and impact of localised flooding on-site and off-site, watercourse pollution and other environmental damage.

• Incentivise site selection and development design that minimises the potential for flooding on and off site.
• Limit the impact of development on off-site water management infrastructure, including the potential future increase in rainwater from climate change.
• Enhance the resilience of local drainage and flood prevention systems.
• Minimise the release of waterborne pollutants off site.

In the UK around 0.5 million homes, offices, factories and warehouses are considered to be at a significant risk of flooding, i.e. they have a greater than one in 75 chance per year of being flooded. Apart from the initial effects of being flooded, i.e. access and use of the building, once flood water is removed significant resources (man hours, time and cost) are usually required to clean, refit and re-open buildings for use.

This has major impacts on business continuity that can be costly and time-consuming to manage. With due consideration at an early stage of the location, design and specification of the development (including the building, curtilage and wider site) the risk of flooding, and impact if it is flooded, can be managed.