What do I need to do for my Flood Risk Assessment?
Flood Risk Assessments (FRA) are required when a planning application is submitted. This requirement is set out in the Government's policy on development and flood risk as stated in paragraphs 10-13 of Planning Policy Statement 25, which you can view by clicking on the link below:
Paragraph E9 of Planning Policy Statement 25 notes that: "Planning applications for development proposals of one hectare or greater in Flood Zone 1 and all proposals for new developments located in Flood Zones 2 and 3, should be accompanied by a FRA."
The guidance below sets out what the Environment Agency would expect to see in a FRA for different development scenarios, based on the size of the development and the location within the flood plain. A link is also provided to Environment Agency information that may be suitable for the development scenario.
Using the table below, follow the link to the guidance relevant to you. You will need to know the following information:
1. The size of the development proposal.
2. Which Flood Zone the proposal is in. You can find this out by using the Flood Map search facility at the link below:
3. What flood vulnerability the proposed development is. This information is contained within table D2 (on page 25) of Planning Policy Statement 25.
The products outlined below aim to support the FRA guidance by defining the relevant information that may be available from the Environment Agency to support a planning application. These products will implement a consistent and co-ordinated procedure for licensing the re-use of flood risk information for FRA. They will also improve our business efficiency and effectiveness by developing smarter solutions to managing our workload and resource pressure, supported by good quality data. There may be a charge for the information.
| |
Within
Flood Zone 3 |
Within
Flood Zone 2 |
Within
Flood Zone 1 |
|
Non-domestic extensions
with a footprint of less
than 250 sq. metres;
and all domestic extensions |
Advisory comments (PDF, 950KB)
Product 3: Basic FRA/FCA Map
|
Advisory comments (PDF, 950KB)
Product 3: Basic FRA/FCA Map |
Low risk – Permeable Paving advice (PDF, 251KB)
Product 1: Flood Map |
|
All applications
with a site
area less
than 1ha |
FRA Guidance note 3 (PDF, 686KB)
Product 4: Detailed FRA/FCA Map
Product 5: Reports
Product 6: Model Output Data
Product 7: CaVMID
|
More vulnerable (PDF, 1MB)
Less vulnerable (PDF, 1MB)
Water compatible (PDF, 1MB)
Water compatible WITH overnight accomodation (PDF, 1MB)
Product 3: Basic FRA/FCA Map |
Advisory comments (PDF, 1MB)
Product 3: Basic FRA/FCA Map
|
|
All applications
with a site
area greater
than 1ha |
FRA Guidance note 3 (PDF, 686KB)
Product 4: Detailed FRA/FCA Map
Product 5: Reports
Product 6: Model Output Data
Product 7: CaVMID
|
FRA Guidance note 3 (PDF, 686KB)
Product 4: Detailed FRA/FCA Map
Product 5: Reports
Product 6: Model Output Data
Product 7: CaVMID |
FRA Guidance note 1 (PDF, 655KB)
Product 3: Basic FRA/FCA Map
|
Cumulative impact of minor extensions and the removal of Permitted Development rights
An additional Flood Risk Assessment guidance note, FRA guidance note 2, is available for use in special circumstances where the cumulative effect of many minor extensions in the same location has been shown to make the flooding situation worse. FRA guidance note 2 can also be used where the Local Planning Authority has removed Permitted Development rights for flood risk reasons.
Environment Agency consents that may also be needed
In addition to planning permission from the Local Planning Authority, you may also need a flood defence consent from the Environment Agency when doing:
- Works to an ordinary watercourse such as culverting (a pipe through which a watercourse flows) or obstructing the flow (e.g. weirs or dams).
- Works within Main River and flood defence byelaw distance. Main Rivers are watercourses designated as such on Main River maps (held by the Environment Agency) and are generally the larger arterial watercourses. Main Rivers are also indicated with a red line as part of the Flood Zones held by the Local Planning Authority.
Help pages
The help pages provide guidance on: terminology used within this standing advice; the information required for Flood Risk Assessments covered by standing advice; and detail of Environment Agency consents that may also be required.
