Oliver Muggridge

I am a Graduate Consultant at Aegaea, and my primary focus is supporting planning applications with robust technical flood risk assessments, aligned with the National Planning Policy Framework and local planning criteria. My passion for flood risk and hydrology began during my Geography and Natural Hazard Management degree at the University of Chester and a flood risk work placement for a local county council. I now translate that technical expertise into real-world solutions, working closely with clients to ensure the flood risk requirements are met for a variety of developments across the UK.

How I Can Help You

• Flood Risk Assessments: I apply expert knowledge of the NPPF and local planning policies to deliver robust Flood Risk Assessments for small and large scale developments, ensuring full policy compliance to secure a smooth and efficient planning approval process.
• Flood Evacuation Plans: I develop comprehensive flood evacuation strategies, aligning emergency egress routes with Environment Agency guidelines to ensure full regulatory compliance.
• GIS & Data Analysis: I use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse topographical data and flood mapping, ensuring that the risk to your site is accurately represented.

Expertise in Action

1. Sports Ground Redevelopment (Greenford): I prepared the FRA for a full planning application to redevelop the grounds of a Football Club with a new open storage yard, an all-weather training pitch, a clubhouse extension and a reconfigured car park. The EA Flood Map for Planning placed over half the site in Flood Zones 2 and 3. Because no new buildings or ground raising fall within the modelled flood extent, and existing shipping containers are removed from Flood Zone 3, I could show the scheme is safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere. This gave a clear, policy-compliant basis for the application.
2. Town Centre Change of Use (Witney): I prepared the FRA to support a full planning application and a Class MA prior approval application to convert the rear of a high street commercial building in Flood Zone 2 to residential. Because the change of use introduced a More Vulnerable use, I obtained and analysed the EA’s detailed model data. This showed the existing ground floor would flood to about 60mm in the design flood event. Using the modelled flood level, I set the residential finished floor level 300mm above the design event, in line with the local SFRA. I also set out flood resilience measures, a safe access and egress route with refuge above flood level, and flood warning arrangements. This showed the conversion could be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.
3. Change of Use in the Functional Floodplain (Greenwich): I prepared the FRA and Flood Evacuation Plan for a full planning application to convert a house into a six-person HMO. The house lies wholly in Flood Zone 3b, the functional floodplain. Using the EA modelling, I found that the 20% climate change run was unreliable, because its flood level was below the present-day level. I rejected that run and interpolated the required 27% allowance. By introducing flood resilience measures and a full evacuation plan, I showed that the conversion would reduce the risk to future occupants compared with the existing dwelling.
4. Brownfield Residential Redevelopment (Stockport): I prepared the FRA for a full planning application to replace a public house with a six-storey building of 26 apartments, changing the site from a Less Vulnerable to a More Vulnerable use. The EA’s Flood Zone mapping placed the whole site within future fluvial flood extents. However, my analysis of the detailed EA model showed the site lies outside the design flood event, both with and without the River Mersey defences, even with a conservative 70% climate change allowance. This evidence showed the site and its access route would remain unaffected by flooding, removing a significant planning hurdle and giving the scheme a clear route to approval.

A Bit About Me

Outside of work I enjoy staying active – you can usually find me in the gym, running or hiking!

I also love travelling to new countries. I completed projects in Bergen (Norway) and Naples (Italy) during my degree which required me to learn the languages and engage with local communities to understand how they make life work whilst surrounded by natural hazards. I also recently travelled across South East Asia and Australia where I had the amazing opportunity to experience their different ways of life.