Mark Doodes Planning Consultants
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    • Heritage & Conservation
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    • Soil Percolation Tests
    • Flooding: Sequential and Exception Tests
    • Computer Generated Images
    • Drone Surveys
  • Projects
    • Barn Conversions >
      • Full Planning Permission, Blewbury, Oxfordshire
      • Full Planning Permission, Corsham
      • Class Q, Wootton Fields Farm Barn
      • Class Q, Royal Wootton Bassett Big Barn
      • Class Q, Gainfield, Faringdon
      • Class Q, Granborough, Aylesbury Vale
      • Full Planning Permission, Ampney Crucis, Cotswolds
      • Class Q, Sutton Courteney
      • Stable Barn Conversion, Longcot
      • Barn conversion to four dwellings, Reading
    • Self-Build Projects >
      • Chisleborough, Somerset
      • Replacement Dwelling, Cotswolds
      • Garden Subdivision, Baughurst
      • Brownfiled Subdivision, Stadhampton
      • Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12
      • The Riverbank, Windsor
      • Innovative green roofed self build, Gerrards Cross
      • Collingbourne-Ducis (in Conservation Area)
      • Wantage AONB
      • All Cannings Plot Subdivision
      • Barn-Like Dwelling, Didcot
      • Drayton Mill
      • Hillgreen AONB
      • Broad Town Swindon
      • South Cerney
      • Oxford (Green Belt)
      • Devizes, New Build
      • Netheravon - Wiltshire
      • Maidenhead, Berkshire
      • Granborough, Buckinghamshire
    • Large Developments >
      • Stanton St Quintin - 17 Units
      • East Sussex, 40 Dwellings
      • Staines Old Fire Station
      • Stadhampton 14 Units
      • Blackheath Station Car Park Redevelopment
      • Lydiard Millicent 9 Units
      • Bedfordshire, 21 dwellings
      • Shabbington 15 Units
      • Stadhampton 21 dwellings
    • Small Developments >
      • Abingdon, 2 dwellings
      • Little Milton 5 Units, Oxfordshire
      • Harwell 4 Dwellings
      • Little Chalfont Replacement Dwelling
      • Granborough Replacement Dwelling
      • Oxford 4 Dwellings
      • Camberley 2 Dwellings
      • Peterborough 3 Dwellings
      • Sutton Courtenay 3 Dwellings
      • Brightwalton 3 Dwellings
      • Wiltshire 4 Units
      • Polgooth, Cornwall - New Dwelling
      • Southmoor, Kingston Bagpuize, Oxfordshire
    • Strategic Land >
      • Clevedon, North Somerset
      • Stourport, Worcestershire 60-70 Units
      • Taunton, Land south of
      • Troon, Cornwall
      • Wythall, Birmingham
      • Various Co-op Disposals
      • Shurdington, Cheltenham
    • Commercial Projects >
      • Retail and Residential Development Wroughton, Wiltshire
      • Multi Use Gaming Area, Witney, Oxfordshire
      • Commercial Premises Expansion
      • Commercial Car Park Expansion
      • Ducklington Office Space
      • Major commercial expansion
      • Dog Exercise and Relaxation Business Wanborough, Wiltshire
      • Light Industrial Commercial Scheme
    • Equestrian Projects >
      • Equestrian project with restaurant, Addington, Buckinghamshire
      • Equestrian Indoor Arena, West Wellow, Hampshire
      • Goosey Stables
      • Indoor Equestrian Arena Durley
      • Outdoor arena Braziers End Buckinghamshire
      • Manege extension, Mortimer, Reading
      • Barn Conversion into Office and Living Accommodation, High Wycombe
      • Equestrian Project, Olney, Milton Keynes
      • Wigginton, Hertfordshire
      • Commercial Indoor Arena, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
    • Heritage Projects >
      • Blewbury, Oxfordshire
      • Listed Thatched Cottage in East Hendred
      • West Hanney Listed Building
      • Stanford in the Vale Listed Building
      • Staines Old Fire Station
      • Buscot Park Renewable Heating Project
      • Modern works to Listed Building, Wiltshire
    • Domestic Alterations >
      • Fire Damaged Building Reconstruction
      • Maida Vale NW8
      • Barn Restoration, Chalgrove
      • Kintbury, Hungerford, RG17
      • Change of Use Weston on the Green
      • Renovation of The Old Schoolhouse
      • Barn Change of Use Chalgrove
      • 2 Ancillary Outbuildings Near Witney
      • Midgham, West Bekshire
  • Sites for sale
    • Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14
    • Manningford Bruce, Pewsey, Wiltshire
    • Honey Lane, Cholsey
    • Sites Sold >
      • Blewbury, Oxfordshire, OX11
      • Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12
      • Ball Hill, Newbury, Hampshire, RG20
      • Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4
      • Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4
      • Bishopswood, Baughurst, RG26
      • Maulden, Bedfordfordshire, MK45 2AE
      • Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, OX10
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Flood Zones
​Sequential & Exception Tests

 Sequential and exception tests are referred to regularly in planning conversations but for the general lay person it is not always easy to understand what they are and when they might been needed. Below is information on what the tests are and how to assess if your application requires them. We can always help advise you further.

What is the aim of the sequential test?
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Sequential Test as 'to steer new development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding,' i.e. should this development go here or are there other more appropriate sites available which would be less at risk of flooding? The ownership of a site and the will of the landowner to develop is not important if the conclusion of a test is that there is a better site under third  party ownership identified elsewhere.   

Do I need sequential and exception tests for my planning application?
In England, flood zones are based on the likelihood of an area flooding, with flood zone 1 being the least likely areas to flood and flood zone 3 more likely to. 
You can work out what flood zone a site is in by using the Environment Agency’s website. If you believe the information held by the Environment Agency is incorrect, the onus is on you to take the steps to correct it through hydrological modelling. 

All applications for development in flood zones 2 and 3 are required to apply the ‘sequential’ test. You do not normally need a sequential test for sites in flood zone 1 (where no other sources of flooding have been identified), minor developments and most change of use applications.

​What does a sequential test involve?
There are 3 steps to go through.

Step 1: Firstly a area of search needs to be determined. This needs to be proportionate to the scale of the proposed development, it can be a good idea to check with the local planning authority (LPA) in advance about how large or small this area is. 

Step 2:  A list of all suitable and available sites needs to be pulled together. The list should include sites with planning permission in place for similar developments, allocations in the Local Plan as well as any ‘windfall’ sites, such as sites on the brownfield land register. 

Step 3. Thirdly, each site needs to be assessed for:
  • any potential constraints (e.g. heritage or ecology);
  • capacity, estimated using local density policies; and
  • the flood risk of the site.

How do you pass the sequential test?
All the sites identified in first step of the test which do not pass steps 2 and 3 should be discounted as they cannot be considered as reasonable alternatives.
The sequential test is only passed if no suitable alternative sites are left.

What is an exceptions test?
The exceptions test is another planning tool used to reduce risk to sites that are to be built in flood zones 2 or 3. The National Planning Policy Framework states 'the application of the exception test should be informed by a strategic or site specific flood risk assessment, depending on whether it is being applied during plan production or at the application stage.'  Essentially, the exception test shows how you'll manage flood risk on your proposed site and must show that it won’t increase flood risk elsewhere. The test must also demonstrate that the sustainability benefits of the development to the community outweigh the risk of building on a site at a higher risk of flooding.  

I think I need sequential and exception tests. What should I do?
Sequential and exception tests are normally undertaken by a specialist with the assistance of a town planner. If you need advice or assistance in this area, do get in touch. Contact us 
MARK DOODES PLANNING
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • The role of a Planning Consultant
    • How we work
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Insurance & Legals
  • Services
    • Pre-Auction Advice
    • Site Appraisals
    • Pre-Applications
    • Planning Strategy
    • Planning Applications
    • Land Promotion
    • Barn Conversions
    • Heritage Projects
    • Professional Objections
    • Appeals
  • Specialist Services
    • Heritage & Conservation
    • Topography & Land Survey
    • Ecology & Biodiversity Survey
    • Highways & Transport
    • Trees & Landscape
    • Soil Percolation Tests
    • Flooding: Sequential and Exception Tests
    • Computer Generated Images
    • Drone Surveys
  • Projects
    • Barn Conversions >
      • Full Planning Permission, Blewbury, Oxfordshire
      • Full Planning Permission, Corsham
      • Class Q, Wootton Fields Farm Barn
      • Class Q, Royal Wootton Bassett Big Barn
      • Class Q, Gainfield, Faringdon
      • Class Q, Granborough, Aylesbury Vale
      • Full Planning Permission, Ampney Crucis, Cotswolds
      • Class Q, Sutton Courteney
      • Stable Barn Conversion, Longcot
      • Barn conversion to four dwellings, Reading
    • Self-Build Projects >
      • Chisleborough, Somerset
      • Replacement Dwelling, Cotswolds
      • Garden Subdivision, Baughurst
      • Brownfiled Subdivision, Stadhampton
      • Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12
      • The Riverbank, Windsor
      • Innovative green roofed self build, Gerrards Cross
      • Collingbourne-Ducis (in Conservation Area)
      • Wantage AONB
      • All Cannings Plot Subdivision
      • Barn-Like Dwelling, Didcot
      • Drayton Mill
      • Hillgreen AONB
      • Broad Town Swindon
      • South Cerney
      • Oxford (Green Belt)
      • Devizes, New Build
      • Netheravon - Wiltshire
      • Maidenhead, Berkshire
      • Granborough, Buckinghamshire
    • Large Developments >
      • Stanton St Quintin - 17 Units
      • East Sussex, 40 Dwellings
      • Staines Old Fire Station
      • Stadhampton 14 Units
      • Blackheath Station Car Park Redevelopment
      • Lydiard Millicent 9 Units
      • Bedfordshire, 21 dwellings
      • Shabbington 15 Units
      • Stadhampton 21 dwellings
    • Small Developments >
      • Abingdon, 2 dwellings
      • Little Milton 5 Units, Oxfordshire
      • Harwell 4 Dwellings
      • Little Chalfont Replacement Dwelling
      • Granborough Replacement Dwelling
      • Oxford 4 Dwellings
      • Camberley 2 Dwellings
      • Peterborough 3 Dwellings
      • Sutton Courtenay 3 Dwellings
      • Brightwalton 3 Dwellings
      • Wiltshire 4 Units
      • Polgooth, Cornwall - New Dwelling
      • Southmoor, Kingston Bagpuize, Oxfordshire
    • Strategic Land >
      • Clevedon, North Somerset
      • Stourport, Worcestershire 60-70 Units
      • Taunton, Land south of
      • Troon, Cornwall
      • Wythall, Birmingham
      • Various Co-op Disposals
      • Shurdington, Cheltenham
    • Commercial Projects >
      • Retail and Residential Development Wroughton, Wiltshire
      • Multi Use Gaming Area, Witney, Oxfordshire
      • Commercial Premises Expansion
      • Commercial Car Park Expansion
      • Ducklington Office Space
      • Major commercial expansion
      • Dog Exercise and Relaxation Business Wanborough, Wiltshire
      • Light Industrial Commercial Scheme
    • Equestrian Projects >
      • Equestrian project with restaurant, Addington, Buckinghamshire
      • Equestrian Indoor Arena, West Wellow, Hampshire
      • Goosey Stables
      • Indoor Equestrian Arena Durley
      • Outdoor arena Braziers End Buckinghamshire
      • Manege extension, Mortimer, Reading
      • Barn Conversion into Office and Living Accommodation, High Wycombe
      • Equestrian Project, Olney, Milton Keynes
      • Wigginton, Hertfordshire
      • Commercial Indoor Arena, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
    • Heritage Projects >
      • Blewbury, Oxfordshire
      • Listed Thatched Cottage in East Hendred
      • West Hanney Listed Building
      • Stanford in the Vale Listed Building
      • Staines Old Fire Station
      • Buscot Park Renewable Heating Project
      • Modern works to Listed Building, Wiltshire
    • Domestic Alterations >
      • Fire Damaged Building Reconstruction
      • Maida Vale NW8
      • Barn Restoration, Chalgrove
      • Kintbury, Hungerford, RG17
      • Change of Use Weston on the Green
      • Renovation of The Old Schoolhouse
      • Barn Change of Use Chalgrove
      • 2 Ancillary Outbuildings Near Witney
      • Midgham, West Bekshire
  • Sites for sale
    • Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14
    • Manningford Bruce, Pewsey, Wiltshire
    • Honey Lane, Cholsey
    • Sites Sold >
      • Blewbury, Oxfordshire, OX11
      • Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12
      • Ball Hill, Newbury, Hampshire, RG20
      • Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4
      • Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4
      • Bishopswood, Baughurst, RG26
      • Maulden, Bedfordfordshire, MK45 2AE
      • Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, OX10
  • Advice
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Jobs