The Scottish Government

Flooding

Flooding is primarily a natural phenomenon and has always been an issue in Scotland, particularly for those areas close to watercourses, the sea, groundwater, or with inadequate drainage. The effects cannot be entirely prevented but they can be devastating, damaging property and putting lives at risk. Well considered and effective planning can help to minimise some of this devastation.

Policy summary

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7: Planning and Flooding provides detailed policy on flooding, and this is supported by Planning Advice Note (PAN) 69: Planning and Building Standards Advice on Flooding . The key aim of the policy is to prevent:

• developments either at significant risk of being affected by flooding
• developments which would increase the probability of flooding elsewhere.