Where flood risk applies in Lichfield District
The Southern Staffordshire Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2019), prepared for Lichfield and its neighbouring councils, records:
- The Tame and the Bourne Brook at AlrewasMajor flooding from the River Tame and the Bourne Brook has damaged at least 150 properties at Alrewas.
- Surface water in Lichfield and BurntwoodStaffordshire's flood risk strategy names Lichfield and Burntwood among the county's ten urban areas most at risk of surface water flooding. In July 2013, intense rainfall flooded Sandford Street, Wheel Lane and Birmingham Road in Lichfield.
- Brooks and canalsThe SFRA rates the Mare Brook catchment east of Lichfield as high risk, and records breaches and overtopping on canals including the Trent and Mersey and the Birmingham and Fazeley in the district.
- VillagesPast flooding is also recorded at Shenstone, Harlaston and Clifton Campville.
What Lichfield District Council will look for
Lichfield District Council applies the national tests in NPPF Chapter 18 and the Planning Practice Guidance, supported by its Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. A Sequential Test submitted with a Lichfield application should normally:
- Confirm the flood zone and vulnerabilityUse the current Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning and the NPPF Annex F vulnerability class for the proposed use.
- Justify the area of searchNational policy says the area of search should reflect the catchment for the type of development and the need it serves. Lichfield District includes Lichfield City, Burntwood and a number of villages, so a narrower area matching the settlement served is often more defensible than the whole district for smaller schemes.
- Assess the council's own sources of sitesLichfield District Council's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (2025), the Local Plan Strategy's Strategic Development Allocations and the Brownfield Land Register are the obvious places to start, and omitting them is a common reason for challenge.
- Evidence every discounted siteWhere an alternative is ruled out as unsuitable, too small or not available in a similar timeframe, give the reason and the evidence. Ownership alone is not enough.
- Screen for the Exception TestState whether the Exception Test applies under Annex F Table 3, and if it does, provide it, drawing on the site-specific flood risk assessment.
Lichfield-specific pitfalls
- Land availability evidence dateLichfield's land availability assessment (2025) has a base date of the 2023-24 monitoring year. A site's status may have moved on since, so check key alternatives with the council.
- Local Plan positionThe Local Plan 2040 was withdrawn in 2023, so the adopted plan remains the Local Plan Strategy (2015) and Local Plan Allocations (2019) while a new plan to 2046 is prepared.
- Green BeltParts of the district are in the West Midlands Green Belt. Alternative sites there are rarely suitable unless already allocated, and our reports flag the constraint for every site.
- Housing-led evidence for non-housing usesLichfield's land availability evidence is housing-focused. For employment, retail or community uses, you may need to add alternative sites from other sources.
Fixed-fee Sequential Tests for Lichfield
We have built our Lichfield Sequential Test on published Environment Agency and Lichfield District Council data. Plot your site on our Lichfield Sequential Test page and we'll deliver a submission-ready report within 24 hours of payment for £300. Exception Tests are £450 within 48 hours.
New to the subject? Start with our general guide: what is a flood risk Sequential Test? We also cover other council areas at the same fixed fee. For wider planning help, see planning consultants in Lichfield.
Source: Southern Staffordshire Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (JBA Consulting, 2019).
Sequential Test guides for other council areas
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Frequently asked questions
Does Lichfield District Council require a Sequential Test?
Yes, for most development in Flood Zones 2 and 3, in line with national policy. Some minor development and most changes of use are exempt, and sites allocated in the local plan may not need the test repeated.
What area of search should I use in Lichfield?
National policy says the area of search should reflect the catchment for the type of development and the need it serves. Lichfield District includes Lichfield City, Burntwood and a number of villages, so a narrower area matching the settlement served is often more defensible than the whole district for smaller schemes. The reason must be explained in the report.
Do flood defences mean I don't need a Sequential Test?
No. Flood zones for the Sequential Test are assessed without defences. Defences are taken into account in the site-specific flood risk assessment and the Exception Test, not the Sequential Test.
How much does a Sequential Test cost in Lichfield?
Our fixed fee for a Lichfield flood risk Sequential Test or alternatives assessment is £300, delivered within 24 hours of payment. An Exception Test is £450, delivered within 48 hours.
This guide is general information for applications in England and is not advice on your specific project. Requirements differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and every council publishes its own local validation list, so always check the detail with your local planning authority.