Decision

To appoint JBA Consulting to undertake a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) which covers the whole of North Yorkshire (inc. National Parks) and the City of York Council area.

Reasons for the decision

The decision to prepare the North Yorkshire Local Plan and the associated budget was a Key Decision. Delegated authority is given to sign off the procurement of specialist technical services to produce the evidence base work for the Local Plan Preparation. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment a technical evidence document which sets out the overarching consideration of flood risk. It is required to be produced to help define the respective Local Planning Authorities’ approach to development and flood risk both at an LPA level and a site level and is used to assess planning applications.

Alternative options considered

It cannot be produced in-house, and current SFRAs are either predating more recent guidance and national policy or cover a localised geography. It covers the wider geography to support plan-making at a range of scales and decision-taking. It is required to be produced to help define the respective Local Planning Authorities’ approach to development and flood risk. It is a necessary component of the evidence base for which there is no alternative approach.