6 Snarsgate Street, North Kensington
The Brief
RIDA Reports Ltd was appointed to undertake a detailed flood risk assessment for a proposed development at a single-family dwelling located at 6 Snarsgate Street, North Kensington (W10 6QP). The project required technical environmental evaluation, and the assessment confirmed the site benefits from being located within River Flood Zone 1.
Why the Client Chose RIDA
Securing planning permission for developments located within complex urban drainage zones requires a precise understanding of local planning frameworks and surface water management. The client needed a specialist consultancy capable of delivering a site-specific evaluation in accordance with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. RIDA was selected for its proven expertise in evaluating complex surface water constraints and providing the exact technical evidence necessary to seamlessly support planning applications.
The Challenge
The primary challenge for this site was not river or tidal flooding, as it is safely situated in River Flood Zone 1. Instead, the site required a thorough evaluation due to a medium risk of surface water flooding and its location within a designated Critical Drainage Area. Furthermore, the site was identified as being potentially within an area of sewer flooding. The core challenge was to demonstrate that the new development could securely manage surface water runoff and effectively reduce flood risks downstream, rather than having just a neutral impact, to satisfy local authority expectations.
The RIDA Difference
RIDA conducted a comprehensive flood risk assessment, meticulously evaluating the site using Environment Agency data and local strategic flood risk guidelines. To directly mitigate the surface water constraints and comply with Critical Drainage Area requirements, RIDA outlined the necessary integration of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to securely manage surface water runoff. Additionally, to proactively protect against the identified potential sewer flooding risks, RIDA recommended that all new connections to the sewer network be fitted with non-return valves.
The Outcome
The detailed assessment successfully demonstrated that the proposed development could be safely accommodated at 6 Snarsgate Street. By explicitly addressing the surface water and drainage constraints through the integration of SuDS and robust sewer flood mitigation, RIDA ensured the development will remain secure over its design life. The comprehensive report provided the policy-compliant technical justification required to fully support the client’s planning application without increasing flood risk elsewhere.