Appendix 8 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
1. Introduction and Policy Background
1.1 Introduction
This Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has been undertaken and prepared in accordance with ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ published in 2009 by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Office of Public Works (Flood Risk Guidelines). The Wicklow County Development Plan (CDP) 2021-2027 is required to undergo an appropriate scale of SFRA. A hierarchy of assessments is necessary to ensure a proportionate response to the needs of organisations by avoiding the need for detailed and costly assessments prior to making strategic decisions.
The Guidelines promote a hierarchical approach to the assessment of flood risk, with maximum focus placed on areas at greatest risk of flooding and where the development pressures are highest, as illustrated in the table below. The Flood Risk Guidelines recommend a “Strategic” scale Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is undertaken for a County Development Plan.
This is a working strategic flood risk assessment and therefore as new flood risk information is published and new SFRAs are adopted as part of the review process for plans, the updated information and/or SFRA should be referred to, along with this document.