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Search the Public Notice PortalA garden centre has responded to concerns raised by flooding officers in an effort to get its plans for a two-storey cafe approved.
Agents acting on behalf of Norwich Camping and Leisure Centre, where the cafe could be built, argue the Blofield site's drainage strategy is based on an approach that has already been proven to work.
The strategy outlines how rainwater and surface water would be managed in a development.
Last month, officers from Norfolk County Council's Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) called for more information to address its concerns about the garden centre's proposals.
The LLFA said the application's drainage strategy contained "fundamental issues".
In response, the business' agents said: "Notwithstanding these outstanding detailed matters, we consider it important not to lose sight of the fundamental drainage strategy.
"The proposal is not seeking to introduce an unproven drainage concept but to expand on the site's existing and demonstrably successful approach of rainwater collection and reuse, permeable drainage and infiltration."
The agents argue that while some technical details still need to be provided, the overall drainage strategy should be accepted in principle because it builds on systems already operating at the site.
They have called on the LLFA to accept the approach and allow the remaining details to be agreed later through planning conditions.
If approved by Broadland District Council, the plans, submitted by Trevor Holmes in March, would also include a children's soft play area, a glass-roofed seating area, a serving counter, toilets and additional first-floor seating.
Broadland District Council is yet to decide over the plans.
Why drainage strategies matter
A drainage strategy is an important part of the planning process because it shows how a development will deal with rainwater and surface water.
It is used by councils and flood authorities to assess whether a proposal could increase the risk of flooding on the site or in surrounding areas.
The strategy typically explains how water will be collected, stored, reused or discharged, and what measures will be put in place during periods of heavy rainfall.
If a drainage strategy is not considered adequate, planning authorities may seek further information or object to an application until flood risk concerns have been addressed.
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