Melanie Hooper

I’m Melanie, a Senior Consultant in Aegaea’s Flood Risk Assessment team. I’m a Member of CIWEM (MCIWEM) with over five years of experience in flood risk management. I hold an MSc in Flood Risk Assessment, Modelling and Engineering and a BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of Chester. My experience includes managing large-scale multidisciplinary projects, coordinating Environmental Impact Assessments for renewable energy projects and leading GIS and spatial analysis for water projects. At Aegaea, I deliver Flood Risk Assessments for developments across the UK, combining technical rigour with strong spatial analysis to give clients clear, practical advice that supports their planning applications.

How I Can Help You

• Flood Risk Assessments: I prepare and review Flood Risk Assessments and hydrological assessments for developments of all sizes, including Sequential and Exception Tests, drawing on site visits and project experience across England, Wales and Scotland.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: I have coordinated EIAs for renewable energy projects and written water environment chapters, managing budgets, programmes and technical authors to keep complex submissions on track.
• Project Management and Stakeholder Engagement: I manage scope, budgets, programmes and risks, and liaise with clients, contractors and regulators such as the Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authorities so that projects run smoothly from start to finish.

Expertise in Action

1. Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland): I organised and carried out the site visit for a proposed wind farm, assessing hydrology, landscape features and environmental sensitivities, and engaged with landowners, conservationists and community representatives to understand and address their concerns. This fed into a thorough Environmental Statement that met all regulatory standards and set out a clear path for mitigating environmental risks, helping to balance renewable energy production with environmental protection.
2. Secondary School and Multi-Storey Car Park (Worcester): I prepared the winning bid and delivered two detailed Flood Risk Assessments for the joint development of a new secondary school and multi-storey car park. Drawing on historical flood records, flood zone mapping and hydraulic modelling, I developed a robust sustainable drainage strategy, addressed all feedback from the client and local planning authority, and delivered both reports on time.
3. Developing the Next Generation: I trained and mentored junior consultants, supporting them with report writing, geospatial analysis and their CIWEM applications.

A Bit About Me

I’m based in County Durham and, when I’m not working on flood risk, you’ll usually find me outdoors. I play hockey for my local team and I’m a keen hiker, slowly working my way through the Wainwrights in the Lake District, with a trek across the Dolomites among my favourite hikes so far. I love travelling, and my latest trip was a month-long road trip through the Canadian Rockies. I’m also a big fan of live music and try to get to as many festivals and gigs as I can.