The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Offaly County ...

PART 2If the requirements of Part 1 are satisfied, then the following additional detailedcriterion should also be met.23The development has been the subject of a sufficiently detailed flood risk assessment,as appropriate to the nature and scale of the development, and the potential riskthat may arise, which demonstrates that:(a)(b)the development will not increase flood risk elsewhere and, if possible, willreduce overall flood risk;the development proposal includes measures to minimise flood risk to people,property and the economy and the environment as far as reasonably possibleand to ensure that residual risks to the area and/or development can bemanaged to an acceptable level as regards the adequacy of existing floodprotection measures or the design, implementation and funding of any futureflood risk management measures.(See Appendix A)Note: In the event that land is zoned without the benefit of these guidelines,please refer to Para 5.23.3.10 It is clear that a balance needs to be achieved between accommodatingappropriate growth as outlined above and the avoidance of flood risk. TheJustification Test has been designed to rigorously assess the appropriatenessor otherwise of particular developments that, for the reasons outlined above,are being considered in areas of moderate or higher flood risk.3.11 Development that is inappropriate under the screening process set out insection 3.6 and that does not meet the criteria of the Justification Test shouldnot be considered at development plan stage nor through the developmentmanagement process.How does the Justification Test work?3.12 The application of the Justification Test within the sequential approach essentiallyrequires the justification of development in existing urban areas as outlinedabove, where expansion or consolidation in flood risk areas is being considered.The development must be consistent with the proper planning and sustainabledevelopment of an area and must demonstrate that it will not be subject toan unacceptable level of flood risk. The operation of the Justification Test isa key step within the sequential approach and is applied to test both zoningdecisions and development applications. It should be noted that detailedstudies to support Part 2 of the Justification Test should only be commissioned,after the criteria under Part 1 have been met (See Appendix A, Section 2).Planning Guidelines