Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and Surface Water Drainage (SuDS) to support planning

Flood Risk Assessments (FRA) and Drainage Assessment (i.e. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems SuDS) are the key planning requirements across England.

A flood risk assessment (FRA) is required for all development proposals (including householder extensions and change of use) if the proposal site is located:

within Flood Zones 2 (Medium Probability) or Flood Zone 3 (High Probability)
within Flood Zone 1 with a site area of 1 hectare or more.
within areas identified as having critical drainage issues.
within Flood Zone 1 with the possibility of future flood risk as identified by the Local Authority’s PFRA or SFRA studies
A FRA is also required for the proposed development that increases the vulnerability classification such as from ‘less vulnerable’ to ‘more vulnerable’.

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Uk Flood Risk

About UK Flood Risk Consultants

We are a small Engineering Consultant based in London. We provide our consultancy services in the field of Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in order to support the planning.

We have extensive experience in carrying out Flood Risk Assessments complying to national NPPF guidelines, and the Environment Agency & Local Authorities polices on flood risk and drainage. As a small company, we can boast of:

Competitive fees

Client focused services

Timely delivery to meet client requirements

We have more than years of experience

15+

All major or minor development proposals need to be supported by a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment if the site is located in Flood Zone 2 or Flood Zone 3 either from fluvial (i.e. river) or tidal flooding. A site-specific Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) will be required to satisfy the Local Authority's policies on sustainable drainage.

We should follow the Environment Agency’s standing advice if we're carrying out a FRA of a development classed as:- a minor extension (household extensions or non-domestic extensions less than 250 square metres) in flood zone 2 or 3, - ‘more vulnerable’ in flood zone 2 and ‘less vulnerable’ in flood zone 2 with some exceptions.

We also need to follow standing advice for developments involving a change of use into one of these vulnerable categories or into the water compatible category.

We need to do a Sequential Test if both of the following apply: the site is in flood zone 2 or 3, and a sequential test hasn’t already been done for a development of the type you plan to carry out on the proposal site.

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Why do you need a Flood Risk Assessment ?

You must complete an FRA so that the LPA will know:

what the flood risks are and how they will change in the future
whether your project will increase flood risk
how you intend to manage any flood risk

The LPA will use this information to consider your planning application.

Timeframe for a FRA

The assessment typically includes a combination of field surveys, computer modelling, and historical data analysis to determine the flood risk in the area. This information can then be used to develop flood risk management strategies, such as land use planning, emergency response plans, and infrastructure improvements.

FRAs can take several weeks to complete so it’s a good idea to organise them before any detailed design work is carried out.

If your planning application is for a project in an area with a high flood risk, the LPA will consult with the Environment Agency to assess your FRA.

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Flood Risk Challenges

There are several challenges associated with managing flood risk, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing urbanization. Some of the key challenges include:

Climate change: Climate change is expected to result in more frequent and severe weather events, such as heavy rainfall and storm surges, which can increase the risk of flooding. This can lead to challenges in predicting and managing flood risk, as well as in developing effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of flooding.

Urbanization: Urbanization can exacerbate flood risk by increasing the amount of hard surfaces, such as concrete and tarmac, which can lead to faster runoff and less water absorption. Urbanization can also increase the number of people and properties at risk of flooding, as well as the value of the assets exposed to flood risk.

Limited resources: Managing flood risk can be resource-intensive, requiring significant investments in flood defences, flood warning systems, and emergency response capabilities. Limited resources can lead to challenges in developing and implementing effective flood risk management strategies, particularly in areas with high levels of flood risk and limited financial resources.

Complex stakeholder relationships: Managing flood risk often involves working with a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, property owners, and community groups. Balancing the interests and priorities of these stakeholders can be challenging, particularly in areas where there are competing demands for limited resources.

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Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and Surface Water Drainage (SuDS) to support planning