A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is a report that outlines the main flood risks to a site and presents recommendations for mitigating measures to reduce the impact of flooding to the site and surrounding area.

You will need a Flood Risk Assessment as part of your planning application if your site is over one hectare in size or if it is wholly or partially situated in a Flood Zone. Flood Zone mapping can be viewed on the EA website.

A significant proportion of the UK is at risk of tidal, river or groundwater flooding. The purpose of a Flood Risk Assessment, as part of the planning process, ensures that developers are aware of the recommendations of the Environment Agency (EA) and suggests adequate mitigation measures to ensure that a development is sustainable and safe in terms of flood risk.

A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) report can be simple and straightforward and cost as little as a few hundred pounds. Pricing is case dependent and it is therefore very important for us to gather as much information as possible at the earliest stage in order to give you the most competitive quote. Please note that our pricing includes all disbursements so that we can provide you with a comprehensive and realistic fixed rate fee.

EVY has undertaken a large number of flood risk and consequence assessments for tidal, fluvial and SUDs situations in accordance with PPS25 (England) and TAN15 (Wales). As such EVY will facilitate the planning process for our clients in relation to the development of sequential flood risk assessments and formal flood risk assessments. We have the capability to undertake hydrological analysis, hydraulic modelling, drainage and highway design and will give guidance to the client or architect on the design of the building for flood resilience. We have an excellent working relationship with the EA and work collaboratively to facilitate the development of sound and sustainable buildings in compliance with PPS25 and TAN15 which currently regulates development in the flood plain. A Flood Risk / Consequence Assessment begins with our clients providing us with the information they hold on the current state, and the proposed plans for the development site. EVY will undertake the assessment which may vary from a desk study to a detailed hydraulic model analysis. During this stage EVY will also liaise with the Environment Agency (EA) and the Local Planning Authorities (LPA) and assess their requirements with regards to the development and the current legislation. EVY will produce a formal report to the client summarising our recommendations ready for submission to the LPA and EA.

A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is submitted with a formal planning application in England. The FRA is passed to the Environment Agency (a statutory consultee) by the Local Planning Authority. The Environment Agency will review the document and will either object (or not) to site specific proposals presented in the document. The objective of the report is to investigate the flood risk to the site and establish whether the development is compliant with the PPS 25 exception tests (in England). The report can include consideration of the hydrology, and results of hydraulic modelling. It also can cover issues such as flood resilience, safe refuge, flood warning, flood hazard, and safe access & egress.

A Flood Consequence Assessment (FCA) is submitted with a formal planning application in Wales. The FRA is passed to the Environment Agency (a statutory consultee) by the Local Planning Authority. The Environment Agency will review the report and will either object (or not) to site specific proposals presented in the document. The objective of the report is to investigate the flood risk to the site and establish whether the development is compliant with TAN15 (in Wales). The report can include consideration of the hydrology, and results of hydraulic modelling. It also can cover issues such as flood resilience, safe refuge, flood warning, flood hazard, and safe access & egress.

Edenvale Young Associates are acknowledged experts in ISIS (1D), TUFLOW (2D) and ISIS/TUFLOW (1D-2D), and have developed many complex models using these applications; for assessing problems including evaluating flood risk due to fluvial, tidal and pluvial flooding and flood defence breach. The type of the hydraulic model required will depend on the location and complexity of flooding. Edenvale Young will advise you of the appropriate type of model that for your site. Further information of our hydraulic modelling expertise can be found here.

The Environment Agency holds a wide range of information on flooding and flood risk throughout England and Wales. This includes hydrological information, hydraulic models and flood risk mapping data. The majority of the larger rivers within our cities have been modelled and the EA can frequently supply good information and data associated with hydrology, LiDAR, flood levels and flood defences. The Environment Agency will make a charge for this data. In addition, it is also possible to purchase hydraulic models from the Environment Agency which can be improved to investigate the flood risk associated with specific development proposals. Away from our major cities and on smaller watercourses the coverage of information is less comprehensive and the Environment Agency may be able to supply some or all of the above information. The cost of an FRA \ FCA is dependent on the coverage, quality and applicability of the information held by the Environment Agency. EVY will advise you on the need, benefits and use of purchasing data and models from the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency holds a wide range of information on flooding and flood risk throughout England and Wales. This includes hydrological information, hydraulic models and flood risk mapping data. The majority of the larger rivers within our cities have been modelled and the EA can frequently supply good information and data associated with hydrology, LiDAR, flood levels and flood defences. The Environment Agency will make a charge for this data. In addition, it is also possible to purchase hydraulic models from the Environment Agency which can be improved to investigate the flood risk associated with specific development proposals. Away from our major cities and on smaller watercourses the coverage of information is less comprehensive and the Environment Agency may be able to supply some or all of the above information. The cost of an FRA \ FCA is dependent on the coverage, quality and applicability of the information held by the Environment Agency. EVY will advise you on the need, benefits and use of purchasing data and models from the Environment Agency.

An accurate topographic survey is frequently required to enable the flood depths and flood hazard to be established on a site. Where there is no existing hydraulic model of the watercourse then cross sections through the river and floodplain will be required to allow us to build a simple hydraulic model.

LiDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) is topographic information collected from an aircraft. LiDAR allows us to create a digital terrain model of the landscape. We use this information to build 2D and 1D-2D hydraulic models to evaluate complex flooding mechanisms (i.e. through the urban environment). There are several examples on the website. LiDAR is available at a number of resolutions and can be purchased from the Environment Agency (Geomatic Group) or a number of private companies. EVY can advise you whether the hydraulic modelling requires LiDAR and seek the most cost effective way of purchasing the data.

PPS25 refers to Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk. It is the official document that regulates the assessment of flood risks and their appropriate mitigations to the planning process. You can read an outline of PPS25 here.

TAN15 refers to Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk. It is the official document that regulates the assessment of flood risks and their appropriate mitigations to the planning process. You can read an outline of PPS25.