Flood Risk Assessment for Planning

A Flood Risk Assessment (also known as an FRA) is a planning document that allows clients and local authorities to assess the flood risk to a site. This allows local authorities to understand whether a development will be safe to build in its current state in relation to different types of flooding.

FRA’s are necessary for many different project sizes, from new home extensions to constructing multiple properties on a large piece of land. It assesses multiple sources of flooding to your existing and future development/site, whilst referencing National and Local Planning Policies.

The flood assessment further establishes whether any other third parties could provide comments about the development (such as; Environment Agency, Local Drainage Boards, Lead Local Flood Authority, etc).

The key outcomes of the flooding risk assessment in a basic form are;

• Establish the risk of flooding to the site
• Cross-reference the findings from a review of the flood data against national and local planning policy
• Confirm what is and is not viable based on the initial data review
• Review proposed design/layout and comment on whether the development would be acceptable for planning
• Assess impacts onsite and offsite as a result of constructing the development
• Advise and provide recommendations of what mitigation measures could be introduced to prevent flooding impacting the site, its future users/occupants, and whether it increases the risk of flooding elsewhere, post-construction.

It should be noted that even if a development can be shown to be mitigated from the flood risk, planning authorities still may not deem it acceptable for construction. Certain developments have stricter planning and are therefore more stringent on what is and isn’t acceptable. This is something we can advise you on upfront during our initial consultation so you’ll know if there are some additional complexities with your project or the flood zone it’s located in.

Read more about what a flood risk assessment is.

In England, a FRA is required when the development or site is located in Flood Zone 2 and 3 according to the Environment Agency flood map for planning. An FRA is also required if the Site is in Flood Zone 1 when it is equal to or greater than 1 hectare in size or if it’s located within a Critical Drainage Area, regardless of its size.

Even with this in mind, the National Planning Policy Framework requires an FRA to be used to assess all sources of flooding. Therefore, an FRA could be requested even if your site doesn’t fit these requirements. Especially if there is a history of flooding, such as from a sewer or reservoir.

If your site is within 20 meters of an Environment Agency (EA) Main River, it’s also highly likely you’ll be required to provide an FRA with a particular focus on the EA Guidance.

Use the Environment Agency’s Flood Map for Planning, which is free to access. You define your site boundary and it returns the flood zone classification, along with surface water and climate change data. In Scotland, use SEPA’s flood maps; in Wales, the Flood Map for Planning published by Natural Resources Wales.

On the EA map, light blue shading is Flood Zone 2 and dark blue is Flood Zone 3. Either means your site is at risk of flooding and a Flood Risk Assessment will be required. An application submitted without one will likely be rejected, so it is worth checking at the idea stage rather than after the design is fixed. Finding out late can mean costly changes, from raising floor levels to relocating buildings on the site.

Bear in mind the maps show risk from rivers and the sea. They do not show Flood Zone 3b, and they will not tell you about groundwater or sewer flooding, so a clear result does not always mean no assessment is needed. Plenty of sites outside Flood Zones 2 and 3 still require an FRA.

Being in a flood zone does not end your development plans. Our team has supported many complex projects, including large developments in Flood Zone 3b, the highest risk classification in the English planning system. If you are unsure which flood zone your site falls in, or whether the project is viable, get in touch.

There are 3 main flood zones used in England under the National Planning Policy Framework and Environment Agency categorisation. Flood Zone 1, 2, and 3, with 1 being the lowest risk and 3 being the highest. There is, however, a fourth category for functional floodplains, known as Flood Zone 3b. This is not shown on the EA flood map for planning but we’ve discussed it more below.

Flood zones are derived by hydraulic computational models produced by the EA or private ownership. England has a detailed network of rivers, and it is of national importance to establish which rivers and areas in the country could be more susceptible to flooding from a fluvial or tidal source (rivers and sea).

​The three main flood zones are categorised on the EA flood map as;

• Flood Zone 1 – Low risk of flooding from rivers or seas – no blue shading
• Flood Zone 2 – Medium risk of flooding from rivers or seas – light blue colour
• Flood Zone 3 – High risk of flooding from rivers or seas – dark blue colour

However, Flood Zone 3 is unique in that it contains two zones;

• Flood Zone 3a, and;
• Flood Zone 3b – Functional Floodplain

​The reason these have been further split is that they could be the difference between a development being accepted at planning, or not being rejected.

To provide greater context of the two flood zones, we’ve included a table extracted from the National Planning Practice Guidance – Flood Risk Vulnerability and Flood Zone Compatibility. The table sets out the flood zones on the left column and the vulnerability of uses on the top row. To provide more context of what the vulnerability classifications include, we’ve included two examples;

More Vulnerable

• Hospitals
• Residential institutions such as residential care homes, children’s homes, social services homes, prisons, and hostels.
• Buildings used for dwelling houses, student halls of residence, drinking establishments, nightclubs, and hotels.
• Sites used for holiday or short-let caravans and camping, subject to a specific warning and evacuation plan.

Less Vulnerable

• Police, ambulance, and fire stations which are not required to be operational during flooding.
• Buildings used for shops; financial, professional and other services; restaurants, cafes and hot food takeaways; offices; general industry, storage, and distribution; non-residential institutions not included in the ‘more vulnerable’ class; and assembly, and leisure.
• Land and buildings used for agriculture and forestry.

The aim of the sequential test is to steer new development to areas with the lowest risk of flooding. Development should not be allocated or permitted if there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposed development in areas with a lower risk of flooding. The strategic flood risk assessment will provide the basis for applying this test. The sequential approach should be used in areas known to be at risk now or in the future from any form of flooding.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that all plans and strategic policies informed by a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment should adopt a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development. Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from high-risk areas. This isn’t always possible, and when it isn’t, the development should be made safe for its lifetime, tailored to its specific use, and without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

​The sequential risk-based approach to the location of development should also consider the current and future impacts of climate change. In circumstances where it is demonstrated that the site could be at risk of flooding or is currently in a flood zone, then it is necessary to apply the Exception Test, which is discussed below in greater detail.

In summary, the sequential test is required to be applied for strategic planning purposes, reviewing site allocations and the flood zones they are located within to support the Local Plan. The Sequential Test can also be applied for single planning applications. In both instances, it is encouraged that new development should be located in areas of lowest flood risk – Flood Zone 1.

If your site is located in Flood Zone 2 or 3 then it could be requested by the Local Planning Authority and Lead Local Flood Authority to produce a Sequential Test, which justifies why development of your site in a flood zone over another which is not, is preferred and should be considered.

It should be further noted that where planning applications come forward on sites allocated in the development plan through the sequential test, applicants need not apply the sequential test. This is because it has already been conducted by the Lead Local Flood Authority / Local Planning Authority.

To determine whether your development may require a sequential test, as well as a Flood Risk Assessment, please contact us. We can work with you to discuss your site, development aspirations, and how best to mitigate flood risk.

The Exception Test is necessary when a development is located in a flood zone.

The need for the exception test will depend on the potential vulnerability of the site and of the development proposed.This is in line with the Flood Risk Vulnerability Classification set out in National Planning Policy Guidance.

The Exception Test consists of two parts. Both elements should be satisfied for the development to be allocated (Development Plan) or permitted (planning application).

For the exception test to be passed, it should be demonstrated that:

The development would provide wider sustainability benefits to the community that outweigh the flood risk.

The development will be safe for its lifetime, taking account of the vulnerability of its users, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, will reduce flood risk overall.

A professionally written, researched and thought-out Flood Risk Assessment can add real value to your planning application. It can reduce the costs of the application process through redesign, time, and water management.

Our highly experienced team can review developments against the policy requirements and flood zones. We then utilise our industry experience and local region knowledge to ensure that we provide you with the correct answer. We do this all for a highly competitive price, with no “one size fits all” quotes.

There are a lot of different parameters that can influence the time it takes to complete an FRA. Each project is unique and has different flood risks, designs, environmental conditions, topography, historic uses, and are subject to different planning policies. All of these can affect the time it takes for a flood risk assessment to be completed. The industry standard for an FRA is around 4 to 6 weeks.

Our team, however, have experience in supporting over 1,000 projects and have developed methods and techniques to analyse data efficiently and effectively review every aspect in a timely manner. On average, our FRA reports take 5 to 10 working days once we have received the necessary data.​

​If a site is located in Flood Zone 2 or 3, generally we would request data from the Environmental Agency (EA), or the relevant governing agency / third party. The Environment Agency have a statutory 20 working day (4 weeks) turnaround for all enquiries, including data. This turnaround time is echoed by most third party providers.

From then, we will conduct a thorough analysis with industry leading software and our in house tools. Once this is done, we’ll review the results with you and examine the risk of flooding before we complete the report. We make sure to keep you up-to-date throughout the whole process so you’re always aware of timelines. That way, you can get on with organising the rest of the planning application.

In very limited cases, it may be possible for simple, low-risk developments such as small extensions. However, most planning applications require a professional consultant to ensure the assessment is accurate, proportionate, and meets planning policy requirements.

Indicative flood level information may be available from Environment Agency datasets. However, national guidance makes clear that this data is not always site-specific or sufficiently accurate for planning purposes.

For most developments, flood levels need to be derived or refined using specialist tools, modelling, and additional environmental datasets. This is typically undertaken by experienced consultants to ensure the results are robust and suitable for planning submission.

No. Most small developments in Flood Zone 1 do not need one, and a household extension built over an existing footprint that connects into existing drainage is often exempt. The requirement bites where the site is in Flood Zone 2 or 3, is one hectare or more in Flood Zone 1, sits within a Critical Drainage Area, lies within 20 metres of a Main River, or has known surface water, groundwater or drainage risk. Even outside those, a planning authority can still ask for one where flood risk or drainage constraints are present.

Flood Risk Assessments should be prepared by consultants with relevant technical expertise in flood risk, drainage, and planning policy.

While many professionals may offer this service, the quality and approach can vary significantly. A well-prepared FRA requires not only an understanding of policy requirements, but also the ability to interpret flood data, assess site-specific conditions, and, where necessary, apply modelling or additional analysis.

This level of expertise is particularly important on constrained or higher-risk sites, where the assessment may directly influence the outcome of a planning application.

For a straightforward site with no data requests outstanding, an FRA can be produced in around five working days. That assumes the flood data is already available, no survey is needed, and the design is settled. Where Environment Agency data has to be requested, the EA has a statutory 20 working day turnaround, which sets the floor regardless of how quickly we work.

The most common causes are outstanding data requests, particularly to the Environment Agency, and surveys commissioned late – topographical, CCTV or infiltration testing. Modelling requirements, unexpected site constraints and changes to the development design during the process all add time. Where a Sequential or Exception Test is also required, that adds a separate piece of work.

Yes, mostly by getting the inputs in early. Request Environment Agency data as soon as the site is identified rather than waiting for the design to firm up, commission any topographical survey or infiltration testing at the same time, and give us the proposed layout rather than a concept. Sites where the layout changes mid-assessment take longest, because the flood risk conclusions have to be reworked against the new design.

Yes. The revised 2026 NPPF applies immediately and does not include a transition period. Planning applications awaiting determination should therefore be reviewed against the updated policy.

Yes, if your property sits in Flood Zone 2 or 3, or within a Critical Drainage Area. Size does not exempt you, and a planning application submitted without one is likely to be refused.

There is a common exception on the drainage side: an extension built over the existing footprint that connects into existing drainage may not need a separate drainage strategy. That is not the same as being exempt from a Flood Risk Assessment, so it is worth checking both.

If the property is in Flood Zone 1 and the site is under a hectare, you probably do not need one, though the local authority can still ask if there is a history of flooding nearby.