Flood Risk Assessment and SuDS Strategy — Commercial Conversion, Burton Latimer
We prepared a combined Flood Risk Assessment and SuDS Strategy for the conversion of a former conservative club in Burton Latimer — a Flood Zone 1 site where high surface water risk and medium groundwater susceptibility required a targeted drainage and resilience approach.
Flood Risk Assessment and SuDS Strategy — Former Conservative Club Conversion, Burton Latimer
Location: 4 Church Street, Kettering, NN15 5LU, North Northamptonshire Council | Client: Ceres Property | Services: Flood Risk Assessment, SuDS Strategy
Surface Water Risk Driving the Design in Flood Zone 1
The conversion of Burton Latimer Conservative Club from commercial to residential use presented what looked like a straightforward planning case — Flood Zone 1, low fluvial risk, an existing building rather than new construction. But the EA's surface water mapping told a more complex story, with high pluvial flood risk across the site and medium groundwater susceptibility adding a secondary consideration that needed to be addressed before North Northamptonshire Council could support the application.
We were appointed by Ceres Property to prepare a combined FRA and SuDS Strategy for the conversion of the former conservative club at 4 Church Street, Burton Latimer, Kettering, NN15 5LU.
Flood Risk Assessment — All Sources
Fluvial risk was low — the site sits within Flood Zone 1, well outside any river flood extent. Tidal risk was negligible. However, surface water (pluvial) risk was classified as high. EA surface water flood mapping confirmed areas of significant ponding and overland flow routes across the site during extreme rainfall events, driven by the relatively flat topography and the impermeable surfaces associated with the existing building and surrounding hardstanding.
Groundwater risk was assessed as medium. The local geology and the area's drainage characteristics indicate some susceptibility to elevated groundwater levels during prolonged wet weather. Sewer flooding risk was low, as was artificial source risk.
No historic flooding was recorded at the site itself, consistent with the Flood Zone 1 classification, though the wider area's surface water vulnerability was clearly documented in the EA's mapping.
SuDS Strategy
The SuDS Strategy addressed the surface water risk through a scheme designed to attenuate runoff to greenfield rates, incorporating appropriate SuDS features for the site's scale and constraints. The strategy was designed to the 1-in-100-year storm event with climate change allowance, ensuring long-term compliance as rainfall intensity increases.
Flood resilience measures were specified throughout the ground floor, targeting the surface water and groundwater risks specifically — sealed thresholds, moisture-resistant construction, and appropriate drainage management to prevent water ingress during intense rainfall events.
Outcome
The combined FRA and SuDS Strategy demonstrated full NPPF compliance, confirming that the proposed conversion would not increase flood risk to the surrounding area. The assessment provided North Northamptonshire Council with the technical evidence needed to support the planning application — establishing that the change of use from commercial to residential could proceed safely despite the elevated surface water risk.