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

72Appendix B - Addressing FloodRisk Management in Design ofDevelopmentPlanning Guidelines1. IntroductionThe purpose of this appendix is to provide information on how newdevelopment in flood risk areas should be planned, designed and constructedto reduce and manage flood risk and be adaptable to changes in climate.2. Key Design ConsiderationsAddressing flood risk in the design of new development should be based ona set of broad considerations. Such considerations ensure that the response toflood risk is balanced within a range of proper planning and sustainabledevelopment considerations. Innovation, creativity and high quality approacheswill be essential in meeting the design challenges.2.1 Core PrinciplesThe core principles in planning and designing for flood risk are:• Locating development away from areas at risk of flooding, where possible;• Substitution of less vulnerable land uses for the more vulnerable onesthat are to be replaced, where the principle of development within floodrisk areas has been established; and• Identifying and protecting land required for current and future floodrisk management, such as conveyance routes, flood storage areas andflood protection schemes etc. where the principle of development withinflood risk areas has been established.2.2 Aspects of Planning and DesignCareful consideration of planning and design is one of the primary means ofavoiding the impacts of a flood on a specific site. Key aspects of good sitelayout and design include:• Understanding the nature and extent of flood risk;• Achieving the appropriate range and mix of land uses;• Creating and/or extending a robust and permeable urban structure;• Creating and/or extending a landscape structure and drainage; and• Incorporation of key aspects into integrated detailed design.3. Application of Design ConsiderationsThe following indicative case study illustrates the application of the coreprinciples and aspects of site layout and design.