Managed settlement retreat - a strategy for the mitigation of flood risks

Currently, spatial planning contributes to the management of flood risks by keeping flood-prone area free of further development. This approach does not contribute to the reduction of flood risks which are mainly related to already built-up areas. For reducing flood risks, threatened settlement and infrastructure have to be protected or retreated from flood-prone areas. This paper discusses managed settlement retreat. First, the present role of spatial planning in flood risk management is investigated by means of a literature survey and an analysis of the practice of spatial planning in all major territorial states. Moreover, existing examples for managed settlement retreat from Germany and other countries are analysed. Managed settlement retreat can be conceptualized as a proactive or reactive planning strategy in order to reduce flooding risk. The paper presents the results of a gaming simulation of a proactive settlement retreat in Saxonia (Germany). This test proved the applicability of managed settlement retreat in context or urban renewal. Here, a close cooperation between urban development, regional planning and water management is seen as a success factor.