Ipswich to adopt new policies to tackle climate change and flooding

New measures are being drafted to combat climate change and flooding in the Ipswich area, a council has revealed.

Ipswich Borough Council aims to tackle flooding from the River Gipping, tidal sea floods, heavy rainwater, rising groundwater and potential sewage overspills by amending the planning process so that future projects do not increase the risk of floods.

This has been laid out in the Council's Development and Flood Risk Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which was adopted on July 27.

The document details what should be taken into consideration when looking into plans in Ipswich, which has historically been at risk of flooding, and replaces the old one from 2013.

New projects must meet eight criteria before they will be considered, including tests being conducted in line with national policy; developments not increasing further risk of flooding; and ensuring waste water drainage does not meet ground water unless there are no feasible alternatives.

The council will also consider whether a different spot less at risk of flooding could be offered for a project.

The SDP highlights sustainability measures such as water re-use, rainwater harvesting and or use of local drainage water in operations that will be mandatory for new developments.

According to a joint report from Suffolk County Council and The Environment Agency, Ipswich is identified as a 'Flood Risk Area'.

The government's flood tracker tool reveals that parts of the town that lay near the Rivers Orwell and Gipping are at a particularly high risk of flooding.

The report highlights a small embankment off Hadleigh Road is of high flood risk in the present, which the council says will only increase with time.

Councillor Carole Jones, the Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “Ipswich Borough Council is committed to playing its part in managing flood risk in our town. The SDP will help developers build mitigation into their development proposals, plan for climate change and submit appropriate flood risk & flood risk management information with planning applications."

The new SDP takes recent forecasts into account, such as the 2020 Environment Agency flood model for the River Gipping or the completion of the town's tidal flood defences, which were completed in 2019.

It also provides new allowances for potential flooding from the river in line with expected water level rises associated with climate change.

Cllr Jones added:“This and other SPDs give guidance on how the council applies Ipswich Local Plan policies when we determine whether a planning application should be approved or not. It is important for our town, now and in the future.”

The council has been adopting updated flood policies as a response to the February floods.

Flooding is expected to increase as sea levels continue to rise as a result of climate change.