The Drainage Boards in the Somerset Consortium are a contributing authority in the planning process. Five district councils in Somerset consult the Drainage Boards on matters of drainage, water level management and flood risk within the Boards'boundaries.

The five district councils are:

• Sedgemoor District Council
• Taunton Deane Borough Council
• South Somerset District Council
• North Somerset Council
• West Somerset District Council

Planning applications and their details are made available to the Consortium staff for their comments. Our Engineers will investigate the site for flood risk and water level management issues as well as its proximity to a watercourse. Our comments are passed to the Planning Authority for their consideration.

As a consultee in the process, the Board does not have the legal power to grant or reject a planning application that we scrutinise. Our role is to ensure that any development granted permission will not increase flood risk, adversely affect water level management or restrict the Board's ability to maintain any watercourse.

The Consortium Boards have adopted policies to set out their position on development in their areas for the benefit of prospective developers and the Planning Authorities. The local Planning Authorities are party to the positions taken in the Board Policy documents and will endeavour to work to them where possible.

The policy document on Development & Flood Risk in Drainage Board Areas is available on this website.

When considering the surface water drainage of a development site the Board has produced guidance on the potential to use infiltration techniques to manage surface water run-off, this guidance can be downloaded from this website.

In addition to the safeguards offered by the Planning Process, the Boards also have enacted Byelaws to control all works within 9 metres of any watercourse. See also the Board's policy Protecting access to watercourses and culverts.

If you wish to view the Boards information sheet on Land Drainage Consents follow this link.