MsJessica Duffield
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Development Control
PO Box 604
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 9FE

Our ref:	RA/2024/147502/04-L01
Your ref:	2024/0580

Date:		17 October 2025

Dear Ms Duffield

(AMENDED PLANS/DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED)  HYBRID PLANNING APPLICATION COMPRISING A) FULL PLANNING APPLICATION FOR 256NO DWELLINGS INCLUDING 2, 2.5, AND 3 STOREY HOUSES TOGETHER WITH ATTENUATION BASIN AND TEMPORARY ACCESS ROUTE, LANDSCAPING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS AT AREA 1 AND B) OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION WITH ALL MATTERS RESERVED FOR UP TO 200NO. DWELLINGS ON AREA 2 (AMENDED DESCRIPTION AND PLANS).   
LAND SOUTH OF DONCASTER ROAD AND ADJACENT TO STRAWBRIDGES GARDEN CENTRE, DARFIELD, BARNSLEY, S72 5EZ      

Thank you for re-consulting us on the above application on 26 October 2025, following the submission of an amended flood risk assessment and we wish to make the following comments

Environment Agency Position
We acknowledge that an assessment has been completed, however, we do not find that enough evidence has been provided to support the claims made in the Flood Risk Assessment. We therefore maintain our objection.
 
Flood Risk  
In the absence of an adequate flood risk assessment (FRA) we object to this application and recommend that planning permission is refused.
 
Reasons
The submitted FRA does not comply with the requirements for site-specific flood risk assessments, as set out in paragraphs 20 to 21 of the Flood Risk and Coastal Change Planning Practice Guidance and its site-specific flood risk assessment checklist. The FRA does not therefore adequately assess whether the development will increase flood risk elsewhere. In particular, the FRA fails to:

•	Consider how a range of flooding events (including extreme events up to and including 1% Annual Exceedance Probability   Climate Change uplift will affect people and property.

•	Take the impacts of climate change into account

•	There is no assessment of the impact of climate change using appropriate climate change allowances (Don and Rother Management Catchment peak river flow allowances for more vulnerable development in 2080s is  28%).

•	Consider how people will be kept safe from the identified flood hazards.

•	Demonstrate that the proposed rerouting of the watercourse, does not increase offsite flood risk.

•	Demonstrate that the proposed basin, does not increase offsite flood risk.

•	Consider the requirement for flood emergency planning including flood warning and evacuation of people for a range of flooding events up to and including the extreme event.

Overcoming our objection
To overcome our objection, the applicant should submit a revised FRA which addresses the points highlighted above.

If the red line boundary remains as it is, then the applicant will have to:
 
Identify the 1% AEP   CC design flood level and demonstrate that the proposed development doesn’t increase flood risk. Measures should include:
 
•	Finished floor levels no lower than 600mm above the designed flood level.

•	Ensure the proposed development does not increase offsite flood risk by displacing flood water.

•	Evidence the proposed watercourse rerouting and basin development, does not increase offsite flood risk by displacing flood water.
 
The applicant could redesign the site layout, ensuring that the proposed red line boundary is entirely within Flood Zone 1.

Identify the appropriate flood hazards and demonstrate that the proposed development will keep site users safe.

If this cannot be achieved, we are likely to maintain our objection. Please re-consult us if a revised FRA is submitted and we will respond within 21 days of re-consultation.

Environmental permit – Flood risk activities - advice to applicant
 
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 require a permit or exemption to be obtained for any of the following activities:

•	erecting any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, such as a culvert, outfall, weir, dam, pipe crossing, erosion protection, scaffolding or bridge

•	 altering, repairing or maintaining any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, where the work could affect the flow of water in the river or affect any drainage work
 
•	building or altering any permanent or temporary structure designed to contain or divert flood waters from a main river
 
•	dredging, raising or removing any material from a main river, including when you are intending to improve flow in the river or use the materials removed
 
•	diverting or impounding the flow of water or changing the level of water in a main river

•	quarrying or excavation within 16 metres of any main river, flood defence (including a remote defence) or culvert

•	any activity within 8 metres of the bank of a main river, or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river

•	any activity within 8 metres of any flood defence structure or culvert on a main river, or 16 metres on a tidal river

•	any activity within 16 metres of a sea defence structure

•	activities carried out on the floodplain of a main river, more than 8 metres from the river bank, culvert or flood defence structure (or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river), if you do not have planning permission (you do not need permission to build agricultural hay stacks, straw stacks or manure clamps in these places)

For further guidance please visit Flood risk activities: Flood risk activities: environmental permits - GOV.UK or contact our National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
 
The applicant should not assume that a permit will automatically be forthcoming once planning permission has been granted, and we advise them to consult with us at the earliest opportunity.
 
Should you require any additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below.

Yours sincerely

Ms CLAIRE DENNISON
Sustainable Places - Planning Advisor

Direct e-mail claire.dennison@environment-agency.gov.uk
Team e-mail sp-yorkshire@environment-agency.gov.uk