Drainage Consultant
Drainage advice - update
Hertfordshire County Council as the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA) have increased their resourcing and are able to provide increased services. It is anticipated that all statutory services comments will be provided by HCC LLFA by Autumn 2023.
Please also see HCC Screening and Consultation Matrix which will used to determine when the LLFA will be consulted.
Please see the table below setting out when the LLFA will be consulted and when we will ask for you to pay to use the services of our consultant RAB:
| RAB | LLFA | |
| From 26th June 2023 | ||
| Any conditions that LLFA previously recommended | X | |
| Any new strategic sites that have not been reviewed by RAB | X | |
| Minor applications where there are flood risk concerns/involve ordinary watercourses in accordance with HCC/WSP consultation matrix | X | |
| Basic pre-app – this will not include document review/meetings etc, but will provide high level flood risk information and advice on the site to set out our expectations | X (paid for - direct to LLFA) | |
| Pre-app advice on minor developments | X (paid for) | |
| All other applications requiring drainage advice | X (paid for) | |
| From 18 September 2023 - the above plus the following: | ||
| Any new major planning applications and resubmissions | X | |
| All other applications requiring drainage advice, not covered above | X (paid for) | |
| Late Summer/ Autumn [date tbc] | ||
| All major applications | X | |
| All conditions | X | |
| Where conditions were imposed at the request of RAB | X (paid for) | |
| Detailed paid pre-app | X | |
Upon receipt of your application it will be screened in accordance with this table and if necessary you will be asked to pay the relevant fee for RAB to review your proposal. Whilst the use of RAB is optional, the response time of the LLFA for applications that we consult them on that does not accord with this table is uncertain and will likely take considerably longer than the 21 days that RAB can provide a response within.
Fees and how to pay
The fees for us to consult the Drainage consultant on your application are as follows:
| Type of Development | Main Application Cost (excluding VAT) | Re-consultation Cost (if required) (excluding VAT) |
| Major application (residential 10-20 units) | £600 | £500 |
| Major application (residential 20-100 units) | £700 | £600 |
| Major application (100 or greater units) | £800 | £700 |
| Major commercial/industrial | £800 | £700 |
| Minor residential schemes (less than 10 units) | £500 | £400 |
| Discharge of condition (major application) (per drainage condition) | £500 | £400 |
| Discharge of condition (minor application) (per drainage condition) | £400 | £300 |
| Detailed review of fluvial hydraulic modelling | £600 | £500 |
If you wish us to use the Drainage Consultant then please:
- Contact the cashiers on 01727 819221
- Please quote the following budget code: 4530 803223 and the site address or planning reference number
- Confirm with your case officer [can be found here – https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/view-and-track-planning-applications ] that you have paid for us to consult the consultant.
- Upon receipt of payment we will instruct the consultant.
The case officer will also advise the LLFA that we are using a consultant to provide Drainage comments on this application.
The consultant will provide a response to us within 21 days and this will appear on the Council's web page. They may contact you with any queries.