BS 8533:2011

BS 8533:2011 Assessing and managing flood risk in development. Code of practice

BS 8533 gives recommendations and guidance on the appropriate assessment and management of flood risk where development is proposed in the UK.

It is intended to provide developers, and decision makers (local authorities and regulators), with practical assistance for dealing with flood risk in and around their development.

BS 8533 has been created to help the user to analyse flood risk and to guide the selection of appropriate risk management solutions. The stage at which this guide is intended for use is after initial planning considerations pertaining to the development of the site have been applied, including the Sequential Test within England and the Justification Test within Wales, and after the need to carry out a flood risk assessment (referred to as a flood consequence assessment within Wales) has been established.

BS 8533 has been developed to bring together flood risk management guidance issued by the government and devolved administrations within the UK and to provide the user with recommendations that can help them to amass information for a planning application. Where applicable, this standard makes reference to the appropriate planning policies and guidance as correct at the time of publication.

This standard is intended to complement the following national planning policies and guidance for development and flood risk management in the UK.

• Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 – Development and flood risk (England) supported by the PPS 25 Development and flood risk practice guide
• Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 15 – Planning and flood risk (Northern Ireland)
• Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) (Scotland)
• Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15: Development and flood risk (Wales).

Contents for BS 8533 includes:

• Scope
• Normative references
• Terms and definitions
• Assessing the risk of flooding
• Managing the risk of flooding

Relationship with other publications

BS 8533 is complementary to BS EN 752 which covers drain and sewer systems outside buildings.