Sutton Council has new powers through the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
We are empowered to do work to manage the risk of flooding from:
- surface water
- groundwater and
- ordinary watercourses (typically ditches, and small streams)
Any work that we do must be in line with the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
The types of work that might use this power include:
- building or altering structures
- maintaining or restoring natural processes
- changing water levels (higher and lower)
- doing works on a river like diverting the banks and removing litter (like shopping trolleys)
The works are allowed to increase the amount of water below the ground or the potential for flooding. This is as long as the benefits of the work outweigh the harmful consequences.
Work must meet the following four conditions:
The work is in the interest of either:
nature conservation
the preservation of cultural heritage or
people's enjoyment of the environment and/or cultural heritage
The benefits of the scheme outweigh the harmful consequences to:
Human Health
the Environment
Infrastructure and
the social and economic welfare of individuals and communities
The Environment Agency are consulted and consent to the work
Parties who are directly affected are consulted