You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
Land Drainage applications take up to 8 weeks to process, starting from the time at which all necessary information has been provided and instructions for payment of the application fee have been discharged. We cannot guarantee that applications will be decided earlier than this. Please factor this into your programme of works.
For the foreseeable future we will only be able to process applications which are submitted digitally to floods@suffolk.gov.uk.
You're required to submit a land drainage application to us if you wish to do any works which may affect the flow in a watercourse. This can include culverts, dams, weirs or installation of headwalls into a watercourse (including the bank).
When making an application it is essential to fill in the application form fully and accurately, and for any accompanying information, including drawings, maps, assessments and calculations submitted to be clear.
Before submitting and application you may find it useful to familiarise yourself with our consenting policy (PDF, 782KB), which outlines the features we would expect to see in an application and why.
You may wish to discuss the information required with our officers before you make your formal application. Contact details can be found below.
Please note: Incomplete or illegible applications will be returned to the applicant and your fee will not be processed.
The following notes should assist you in the completion of the application form and the submission of supporting documentation. Each section relates to the same numbered section found on the application form:
Certain structures and features may need consent and others may not. On top of this, some might instead need temporary consent. This helpful diagram (PDF, 39KB) shows examples from common works to watercourses to help make consenting a bit clearer. If you are unsure, please contact floods@suffolk.gov.uk.
The name of the individual, organisation or company applying for consent should be given along with the name, address and telephone number of a person who can be contacted to discuss the proposals.
This should explain why the applicant wants to undertake the works.
Agents acting on behalf of an applicant should enter details. If this section is completed, all correspondence will be sent to the agent. Leave blank if not applicable.
The name of the watercourse as shown on the Ordnance Survey map should be given if known, (many minor watercourses are unnamed).
The location of the proposed works should indicate the nearest town/village, the address of the site or sufficient description to enable the site to be identified easily.
The Grid Reference must be provided as 6 figure Eastings and Northings: e.g 612345 212345
In this section you should clearly describe the works you plan to undertake. This should include details on the materials you plan to use, the dimensions of the proposed structures or changes to the channel, and any other information which is relevant to the application.
The method statement should clearly define the way in which you plan to undertake the proposed works. This is best done by breaking down the proposal into stages and describing what will be done at each stage. We require some information on what health and safety measures you will have in place during construction, and what you will do to mitigate flood risk during construction where appropriate.
All pictures, plans and drawings must include a title and reference number.
As a minimum, every application will require:
Work which affect watercourses but are not permanent features will require temporary consent. These temporary features can be applied for in the same way as permanent features, and therefore you will need to indicate whether your proposals are temporary or permanent.
This section aims to give us further information regarding the proposals’ effects on the surrounding natural environment. Please read this section carefully and answer the questions which are found on the form.
You only need to complete this section where all answers in section 7.0 are “No”. If you have answered “No” to everything in question 7.0, you will need to provide evidence that your proposals are not harmful to the natural environment. The best way to do this is by providing pictures and maps as well as a description for evidence that the proposal cannot damage the natural environment.
This may include other permissions or approvals from the Local Planning Authority (LPA), Suffolk Highways, or other statutory bodies. Please include details of whether you have already gained approval from other organisations for these works, or proposals to do so.
If there are outstanding conditions, please list them in this section.
If the proposals are associated with a drainage approval, please provide details
These are contact details we would use to alert the relevant contractors or individuals if there were an emergency during construction. We will not alert you that a flood is expected to happen.
Please provide the contact details for the person or organisation who will be responsible for the ongoing ownership and maintenance of the structure.
Please ensure that all items in bold are submitted. If the required documents are not submitted, we will not process your application until the additional information is received. This will prolong the application process, and if the required documents are not submitted at all we will return your application to you without consent.
Each structure you propose will cost £50. For example, an application which proposes a single culvert and channel realignment would cost £100 since there are two permanent changes. Grouping several structures into one application will not reduce the total cost of the application.
Please note that a single culvert and associated headwall(s) is considered to be one structure since each element of the proposal is reliant on the other.
Enter the value of the cheque submitted or the payment type requested. Arrange for the photographic evidence to be collected after completion. Sign and date the form.
Suffolk County Council as the Local Lead Flood Authority are authorised by section 23(2) of the Land Drainage Act 1991 (as amended by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010) to charge an application fee in relation to the consents required.
These fees are payable to cover our costs for examining the proposals.
The amount of the fee is £50 per structure.
Value Added Tax is not applicable.
Cheques should be made payable to “Suffolk County Council”.
You should note that this charge is payable in respect of each structure and the box on the application form should be completed as appropriate.
Please contact your local Suffolk County Council, Flood & Water Management office if you are in doubt about the fee applicable.
If possible please submit your completed application, with the necessary fee and supporting documents, via email to floods@suffolk.gov.uk.
If you are unable to send the application digitally, please post all of the relevant documentation and fee to:
Suffolk County Council
Flood & Water Management
Endeavour House
8 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2BX
Telephone: 0345 606 6067
For your information the legal provisions are as follows:
Land Drainage Act 1991 as amended by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA10)
Section 23(1) of the Land Drainage Act 1991 (LDA91) provides:
Under the Land Drainage Act 1991 if works are executed without first obtaining a formal written consent from us we have the power to serve a notice under Section 24(1) requiring you to abate the nuisance within a specified time.
Failure to comply with the notice is a criminal offence. Steps may be also be taken to abate the nuisance and recover from you the expenses so incurred.
The Data Protection Act, which came into force in March 2000, requires that Suffolk County Council, as a Lead Local Flood Authority, advises its customers how data relating to individuals will be processed and disclosed.
The information provided will be processed by Suffolk County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority to deal with your application, to monitor compliance with the Licence/permit/registration conditions, to process renewals, and for maintaining the relevant public register(s).
We may also process and/or disclose it in connection with the following:
consulting with the public, public bodies and other organisations (e.g. Health and Safety Executive, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, DEFRA, Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards) on environmental issues;
We may pass the information on to our agents/representatives to do these things on our behalf.
If you are in any doubt about whether you need to apply for a consent, how to complete the application forms or any other aspect of your application please contact:
Suffolk County Council
Flood & Water Management
Endeavour House
8 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2BX
Telephone: 0345 606 6067
If possible, please submit your completed application via email to floods@suffolk.gov.uk.