Nottingham City Council is exploring ways of reducing the risk of flash flooding.

As part of the authority’s response to Climate Change, the city’s planners are due to encourage developers to consider using features which allow water to soak away gradually.

These include using green roofs and porous materials for paving, along with ditches and ponds where possible. Such features can reduce the effects of heavy rainfall rushing into drains and watercourses and creating surges that can cause flooding and damage.

These features have been used on the Jubilee Campus of Nottingham University and the Science Park extension, and are to be included in the South Reef development on Canal Street. The new city academies at Bulwell (River Leen school site) and at Bilborough (William Sharp school site) also both have proposed green sedum roofs and such features will be considered for other Building Schools for the Future developments in the city.

Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration, Councillor Alan Clark, said: "Good planning and design can make a positive contribution to tackling climate change. The recent heavy rain storms show the importance of using design to handle stormwater surges, so we are keen to encourage these sorts of features in new developments in Nottingham."

Views are being sought on this suggested new approach, with details of the guidance available at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/planning under ‘latest news.’ Anyone wishing to comment on the document should do so by June 30th by emailing development.control@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or writing to Planning Services, Exchange Buildings, Smithy Row, Nottingham NG1 2BS.