Does anybody on this forum have much experience with applying the sequential test on small windfall sites? We have a planning application for the demolition of an existing house and it's redevelopment with seven flats. The site is in flood zone 3a. The NPPF (like PPS25) seems to suggest that this development would require a sequential test. The sites within our SHLAA that are sequentially preferable in relation to flood risk have owners who already have their own plans in place for these sites . How can the sequential test be applied practically in the case of this windfall development? The application of the sequential test clearly makes sense when plan-making and considering the acceptability of large scale allocations, but for smaller windfall sites the idea of questioning whether these proposed seven flats can go anywhere else sequentially preferable seems slightly nonsensical, particularly when meeting housing demand in the district is already an issue. Should the developers of this site contact landowners with sequentially more preferable sites to see if they can take another 7 dwellings? This issue is quite confusing. Can anybody help?
