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

74Figure B2 below illustrates how the application of the principles above ontothe flood mapping described in section 3.1 offers a way to match flood riskwith appropriate land uses.Planning GuidelinesFig. B2: Land Use3.3 Creating Good Urban StructureCreating a good urban structure of a given layout, which relates to the patternand layout of streets, spaces and urban blocks making up an urban area, isachieved by:• Understanding and reflection of the existing topography;• Creation of a permeable and legible structure, which provides clear anddirect routes from high risk areas to safer low risk areas;• Designing for the safe movement of people in or out of the area, especiallynear areas where flood water might be flowing, and considering thelocation of safe overland flow routes; (see 3.4 - landscape and drainageaspects);• Avoiding cul-de-sacs in medium and high risk areas to address thepooling of flood water or the creation of a layout where people wouldhave to move through an area of flood hazard in order to reach safety;and• Providing secondary defences in areas of low risk such as demountablebarriers and altered land/ floor levels.In the example, areas of medium risk residential uses are accommodated aboveground-floor level and an early flood warning system has been incorporated.In areas of high risk, safe refuges at higher levels, resilient utility supplies,