Flood Information
Pack
Planning & Building Control
2
Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4
Advice for persons occupying premises in a flooded area ............................................. 5
Building Control Flood Restoration Guidance ................................................................. 6
Upgrading of retained thermal elements of walls and floors .......................................... 7
Planning Permission and Flood Recovery ........................................................................ 8
Listed Buildings & Flooding: Important Points ................................................................ 9
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Section 1: Introduction
This flood information pack has been prepared to provide early advice and guidance for those
affected by flooding.
Inside this information pack you will find useful information to help you obtain the necessary
guidance and approvals from Planning and Building Control.
Most flooded properties will require consent of one form or another. It is vitally important that
you obtain the approvals for your work and you have the necessary approval notices and
completion certificates for the finished works as you may be asked to produce these by your
insurers, banks and potential buyers, in the future, for any subsequent sale of your property.
Failure to provide this information may result in a loss of sale at the critical stage in the
negotiations.
Please note, your builder, unless he is experienced in this kind of work, may not be the best
person to advise you on the requirements of Planning and Building Regulations. There is
much confusion around repairs and controllable work. If in doubt ask your Local Authority or
arrange a site visit and speak to your insurance company to obtain their views.
Flooding can be minor or severe. Deep water will often cause extensive damage to buildings
and their contents. The amount of damage can also be linked to the duration of the flooding.
Flood water is usually contaminated with sewage and chemicals. Once the water has
receded a layer of contaminated silt is left behind. Mould growth will quickly develop in the
damp conditions. This can present some health risks and hygienic precautions should be
taken. Usually building contents will have become permanently stained and unusable.
Communications are difficult after a flood; people leave their homes and set up in temporary
accommodation. Authorities need to ensure they are accessible and as near to the most
affected areas as possible. Early information is vital so that people can start to rebuild as
soon as possible.
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Section 2: Advice for persons occupying premises in a flooded
area
You must take care while you are in this area, and have regard to your own safety and that of
others who may be affected by your activities.
The re-occupation of premises must be undertaken in a safe manner, and must take regard of
the following matters:
Structural safety and integrity of buildings, structures, garden walls and outbuildings

Basement flooding needs special consideration; water may need to be pumped out
simultaneously to avoid pressure on party walls

Safe condition of false ceilings, partitions and floors, sharp objects

Safe condition of gas supplies and all electrical systems, isolation of power supplies

Safe means of escape in case of fire and operational early warning systems

Proper means of fire extinguishing and control

Proper water supply and sanitation, open manholes and drains, pollution

Safe operation of lifts and other machinery

Suitable lighting for access and work
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Proper control of dangerous materials such as asbestos and broken glass

Safe condition of air conditioning and ventilation systems

Local Authorities have powers under the 1984 Building Act to deal with dangerous
structures
No re-occupation of any premises should take place until an assessment has been made of all
these matters and safe conditions assured.
Further advice can be obtained from the Local Authority Building Control Surveyor.
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Section 3: Building Control Flood Restoration Guidance
Local Authorities will be able to offer advice and guidance on flood restoration to dwellings
and businesses. Always use suitable contractors. Some contractors working for insurers
already specialise in this field and are geared towards restoration works and understand the
approach that property owners expect.
After the flood water has subsided the building structure may take days, weeks or months to
dry out. You must be prepared for this. Early re-occupation is unlikely. Whilst the building is
drying out the air inside will be quite damp and laden with moisture. It is necessary to ensure
good ventilation to assist in the drying out of the building to avoid mould growth and
respiratory problems.
Flues and air vents serving boilers, gas fires etc may be blocked with debris. Such
appliances should not be used until the flues and air vents have been cleared to avoid carbon
monoxide poisoning.
Flood water may be trapped in wall cavities or under floorboards. It may be necessary to
make holes in the bottom of walls or lift floorboards to let the water drain away. Any wall with
cavity fill insulation will have become saturated and the cavity insulation may need to be
removed.
Parts of the building structure may have become weakened by being soaked in water. The
weight of water held in absorbent materials, such as insulation or plasterboard, together with
softening of those materials by the water, may cause them to collapse. These should all be
stripped out by a suitably experienced and equipped contractor. Once dried out brick and
timber may require treatment to prevent fungal growth in areas like sub floor spaces and
cellars.
Your insurance company should be able to help you in surveying the damage and obtaining
the specialist contractors you will require.
Local Authorities have powers under the 1984 Building Act to deal with structures that have
become dangerous. They can also use emergency powers to abate any dangers to members
of the public and seek professional advice regarding any structural defect. These problems
can be progressive and occur long after the flood event.
Ensure you use qualified building contractors for all the work and that the minimum standards
in the Building Regulations are complied with. Always contact your insurers and the Local
Authority before you start on any work.
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Section 4: Upgrading of retained thermal elements of walls and
floors
Building owners are encouraged to improve the thermal efficiency of their building after
flooding where work is required to renovate wall surfaces and replace floors. Walls and floors
are defined as thermal elements. Windows are a separate thermal element. These elements
separate a thermally conditioned space (heated space) from an unconditioned space, so this
would exclude normal party walls, but include the external wall elements. Upgrading of the
walls and floors with the introduction of insulation materials will only be required if the
proposals to upgrade are deemed as technically and functionally feasible. There are, of
course, benefits to the occupier on completion due to the levels of insulation provided and the
reduction in energy consumption.
Table A below provides guidance on the minimum levels that must be achieved where they
are technically possible.
It may not be technically possible in some buildings due to layout and the problems adding
thicker materials will cause. Advice should be sought from the Local Authority where these
minimum standards cannot be achieved.
Table A Upgrading retained thermal elements
Element1
(a) threshold U-value W/m2K (b) Improved U-value W/m2K
Wall – cavity insulation2
0.70
0.55
Wall – external or internal
0.70
0.30
3
insulation
Floor4,5
0.70
0.25
Pitched roof – insulation at
0.35
0.16
ceiling level
Pitched roof – insulation
0.35
0.18
between rafters6
Flat roof or roof with integral
0.35
0.18
insulation7
1. “Roof” includes the roof parts of dormer windows and “wall” includes the wall parts
(cheeks) of dormer windows.
2. This applies only in the case of a wall suitable for the installation of cavity insulation.
Where this is not the case, it should be treated as “wall – external or internal insulation.”
3. A lesser provision may be appropriate where meeting such a standard would result in a
reduction of more than 5% in the internal floor area of the room bounded by the wall.
4. The U-value of the floor of an extension can be calculated using the exposed perimeter
and floor area of the whole enlarged building.
5. A lesser provision may be appropriate where meeting such a standard would create
significant problems in relation to adjoining floor levels.
6. A lesser provision may be appropriate where meeting such a standard would create
limitations on head room. In such cases, the depth of the insulation plus any required
air gap should be at least to the depth of the rafters, and the thermal performance of the
chosen insulant should be such as to achieve the best practicable U-value.
7. A lesser provision may be appropriate if there are particular problems associated with
the load-bearing capacity of the frame or the up-stand height.
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Section 5: Planning Permission and Flood Recovery
This recent flooding has again affected both business properties and homes, including Listed
buildings and houses in the Cockermouth Conservation Area. Allerdale wants to help
residents and businesses get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Older building fabric,
particularly historic wood and plaster tends to survive flooding much better than modern
materials (and has survived many previous floods), so you should not remove historic fabric
without getting advice. Any restoration work needs to take account of the age and special
character of their fabric.
If your property is not a Listed building, like-for-like repairs will not usually require planning
permission. If you do not want to put back exactly the same as what was there before, new
shopfronts in Cockermouth that fit with the guidance contained within our Neighbourhood
Development Order (NDO) can be carried out without planning permission. A link to this is
below, or if you telephone, we can send it out to you. We will do all we can to help make the
process of getting back to normal as quick and easy as possible.
Although there can be a need for planning permission for the temporary use of another
property while business premises are restored, Allerdale will work with you to establish in
each case what is needed. If a temporary use is to be very short and would be in line with our
policies a pragmatic approach will be taken. Please contact us before moving into a new
property as some uses, although temporary, will not be appropriate because they cause harm
to others or put safety at risk.
We are here to help you. By working with colleagues in Building Control, Environmental
Health and Regeneration Departments we hope we can help make the recovery process a
little easier.
Link to Replacement Shopfronts NDO : http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/downloads/NDO__Replacement_Shop_fronts.pdf
If you do not have internet access, we can send you a copy.
Contact numbers:
Allerdale Planning Department: 01900 702740
Helen Brownlie, Conservation Officer: 01900 702713
Robert Doran, 07834 128605
To obtain copies of our Full Planning, Householder and Listed Building Consent application
forms please visit www.allerdale.gov.uk/environment-and-planning or a copy can be
requested by calling the above Planning Department telephone number.
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Section 6: Listed Buildings & Flooding: Important Points
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Most historic timber and plasterwork can remain in situ if it hasn’t already been
seriously distorted. The key is to allow it to be ventilated sufficiently to dry out properly.
Tell the loss adjuster that the building is Listed (they may well not know)!
If your insurance company wants to remove any fabric that you think is historic and
isn’t damaged, contact the Conservation Officer who will visit and speak to the loss
adjuster.
Ventilate the building, rooms and all elements as much as possible, but do not heat
whilst sodden. Open doors and windows when possible and clear any air bricks.
Don’t heat the building more than it normally heated as this could damage even bits
that haven’t been flood damaged.
Photograph everything that has been flooded.
Environmental Health guidance suggests every 6th floorboard should be removed to
help ventilate the others, but if they are tongue and groove, a skilled joiner should do
this.
Investigate areas that may cut off from air flow and try to introduce airflow.
Use dehumidifiers if ventilation clearly isn’t sufficient, but not to excess, the materials
shouldn’t get drier than they normally are.
Fans are a useful way of getting air moving.
Panelled doors usually survive very well, but leave them open whenever you can.
If in doubt ask our Conservation Officer or Planners.
Advice on Listed buildings is contained within this Historic England Guidance:
https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/flooding-and-historicbuildings-2ednrev/heag017-flooding-and-historic-buildings.pdf/.
If you do not have internet
access, we can send you a copy
Contact Details:
Planning Department
01900 702740
planning@allerdale.gov.uk
Conversation officer
01900 702713
helen.brownlie@allerdale.gov.uk
Building Control
01900 702520
building.control@allerdale.gov.uk
Environmental Health
01900 702590
environmental.health@allerdale.gov.uk
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USEFUL CONTACTS
Organisation
Tel No:
Organisation
Local Community
Foundation
National Flood Forum
01900 825760
01900 702 530
NHS Direct
0845 4647
Business Link
0845 00 66 888
Police
0845 3300247
Chamber of Commerce
(business advice)
Churches Together
01946 592 329
0845 4647
07503931196
Prescription Help &
advice
Red Cross
Citizens Advice Bureau
0300 330 1001
RSPCA
0300 1234 999
Community Law Centre
01228 515129
Samaritans UK wide
08457 90 90 90
Social Services
01228 606060
Transco (gas leaks)
0800 111999
Age Concern
Local Authority:
Emergency Helpline
Planning
Building Control
Environmental Health
Pollution (blocked drains etc)
Refuse collection (flood
damaged freezers etc).
Benefit Enquiry Line
08443 843 843
Tel No:
01299 403055
01900 702 702
01900 702 740
01900 702 520
01900 702 590
01900 702 702
01900 702 702
Consumer Direct (any bogus 08454 040506
calls from tradesmen etc)
01228 606060
County Council
01768 899848
Environment Agency
0345 988 1188
Traveline
0870 608 2608
Gas Safe Register (gas
safety advice and registered
local Engineers)
Highways
0800 408 5500
United Utilities
(electricity)
0800 195 4101
0300 123 5000
WRVS
0845 6080122
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