Dry Islands in the Hart District

The issue of ‘dry islands’ has arisen from the development and progress of the Blackwater Valley (Hart and Surrey Heath) Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA).  

The definition of what constitutes a dry island is not clear cut.  National Planning Guidance, PPS25 does not specifically mention ‘dry islands’ and it does not provide any criteria to indicate what constitutes a dry island.  However, PPS25 and the supporting companion guide does highlight the need for consideration of safe access and escape routes for developments in flood risk areas.  Generally however, some areas within Flood Zone 1 are surrounded by areas at a higher risk of flooding i.e. areas falling within Flood Zones 2 and 3. In certain cases development within such 'dry islands' can present particular hazards to public safety such as people being surrounded by water and needing to be rescued.

Therefore Hart will be treating developments proposed in flood risk zone 1 that are situated in the middle of flood risk zones 2 and 3 in the same way as the latter, with regard to the PPS25 Sequential Test.

The distribution of what may constitute a 'dry island' in Hart District are concentrated mostly in Fleet, Blackwater and Yateley, with one or two in Hook. To assist, Hart have listed below all roads where development proposals will at least need to address the issue.

If you are in any doubt about how flood risks associated with 'dry islands' may affect your area or proposal, please contact either Hart District Council or the Environment Agency. Website details on this issue will be updated in due course.

• List of Dry Islands in the Hart District pdf 30.2KB
• Map of Darby Green, Frogmore and Blackwater pdf 1.37MB
• Map of Eversley and Yateley pdf 1.78MB
• Map of Hook pdf 1.79MB
• Map of Fleet Area pdf 1.74MB

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Posted 02 August 2010