Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment and Economy

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/106 

Key

Contact: Tom Callaway, Team Leader – SuDS & Surface Water (Thomas.Callaway@oxfordshire.gov.uk)  

Report by Director of Economy and Place (CMDEE6). 

To consider updates to Oxfordshire County Council’s local standards guidance for surface water drainage on major developments

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Recognise the statutory consultee role of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under Article 18 and Schedule 4, paragraph (ze) of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015/595.

b)    Acknowledge the 2025 Defra publication of the National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

c)    Consider and approve the content of the updated Draft Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Local Standards and Guidance for Major Development with Surface Water Drainage as set out in Annex 1.

The Team Leader for SuDs and Surface Water introduced the item.

Chair said that she had previously asked for confirmation that the national standards were not lower than previous standards. The Team Leader for SuDs and Surface Water confirmed that the new standards were a vast improvement on the old national standards, and his team had adapted local standards accordingly.

Chair approved the recommendations.

RESOLVED to

a)    Recognise the statutory consultee role of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under Article 18 and Schedule 4, paragraph (ze) of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015/595;

b)    Acknowledge the 2025 Defra publication of the National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS); and

c)    Consider and approve the content of the updated Draft Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Local Standards and Guidance for Major Development with Surface Water Drainage as set out in Annex 1.