Standard Flood Risk Assessment

Standard flood risk assessment with a site survey using ordnance datum and flood information.

This is used for proposed developments within flood zone 1, 2 and 3. A desk top study is carried out in which the assessor needs to compare the site levels with flood information available from the EA and also from within the strategic flood risk assessment for the area which is prepared by consultants for the local authority concerned.

SFRA mapping and flood information is vital
From this information recommendations have to be made about the ground floor level of the proposed development and the question of safe access. All the other criteria contribute to this assessment for other recommendations to be made for the safety of occupants and flood protection / resilience measures. This is where SFRA mapping and flood information is vital because the NPPF consider it is more detailed than EA mapping because it shows the possible threat of flooding from all sources. This is not provided within the EA mapping.

A specialist report
A specialist report is compiled and sent to the client for forward transmission by e-mail so that the report can be held on the LAs planning portal and for them to seek the advice of the EA. If the EA objects to the report then the local authority have the power to overrule that objection but this rarely happens.

Turn around time possibly 25 days
Turn around time can be anything from 5 days to possibly 25 days. This is because the EA is allowed 20 days to provide the flood information.

We can supply a holding flood risk assessment within five days
If this timing causes problems we can supply a holding flood risk assessment within five days for the client to get validation of the planning application from the planners and we can update the FRA during the planning process. This is of particular help to clients facing a tight deadline to get validation.