Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) is the online resource published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that provides detailed, regularly updated guidance on applying the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework. The PPG section on “Flood risk and coastal change” is the primary reference document for practitioners preparing Flood Risk Assessments.

The flood risk PPG covers:

Vulnerability classification: The definitive table classifying development types as “essential infrastructure,” “highly vulnerable,” “more vulnerable,” “less vulnerable,” or “water compatible.” This classification determines which developments are appropriate in each flood zone.
Flood zone compatibility: A matrix showing which vulnerability classifications are permitted in which flood zones, and where the Sequential and Exception Tests apply.
Sequential Test guidance: Advice on how applicants and local planning authorities should apply the Sequential Test, including defining the search area and assessing alternative sites.
Site-specific FRA requirements: What a Flood Risk Assessment should contain, the standards it should meet, and how it should address climate change.
SuDS expectations: Guidance on incorporating sustainable drainage into development proposals.

The PPG is a “living document” — it is updated without formal consultation, and new paragraphs or revisions can appear at any time. This means practitioners must check the current version when preparing submissions, not rely on printed or cached copies.

Aegaea’s flood risk reports reference the relevant PPG paragraphs directly, ensuring that the assessment framework is transparent and traceable for the reviewing planning officer and Environment Agency consultee.