Check and Manage Long Term Flood Risks in England
According to a 2024 official report,6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. This is expected to get worse with climate change, as EA projections suggest one in four properties could be residing in a flood-prone area. Unlike short-term flood risk, long-term flood risk looks at the chances of flooding over an extended period of time from all sources, such as rivers, sea, and surface waters.
It is important to check the long-term flood risk in your area. This helps in decision-making about insurance, buying property, developing your site and avoiding natural disasters. This blog will include how to use official tools, including government websites and long term flood maps, to check for long term flood risk and what preventive measures you can take to protect your family and home.
What is Long Term Flood Risk?
A flood is an overflow of water in normally dry land. It can be caused by heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or storm surges and may result in damage and loss of life. Flood risks are divided into two main categories: long term flood risk and short term flood risk. Long term flood risks predict the chances of flooding over the years or decades, taking climate change into account. Unlike short-term flood risk, it does not include immediate warnings.
It is important to check long term flood risk; homeowners can consider it when buying a property or for an insurance policy. For example, if an area has a high risk of long-term flood (3.3 annual chances), homeowners should consider insurance and protection measures. Developers and planners use long-term flood risks to make informed decisions and require flood risk assessments
How to Check Long-Term Flood Risk
The UK Government provides official tools to check the long term risk of your area. Let’s go through them one by one.
GOV.UK Long-Term Flood Risk Service
This is an official service provided in England, called the long term flood risk service, available on the gov.uk website. You have to simply enter the postal code or the name of your area. The tool provides a report that includes risk levels and flood source categories.
Steps:
- Visit the gov.uk Long-Term Flood Risk Service.
- Enter your postal code or the area’s name.
- The report will show risk levels and sources, such as Rivers and the coast.
Surface water, Reservoirs, and Groundwater. - The report will also label each risk with its intensity (Very Low, Low, Medium, or High)
Checking the UK flood risk by postcode is the quickest and easiest way. It is also easier to understand and more helpful for local residents.
Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning
This is another tool provided by uk.gov to check the flood risk of undeveloped areas. It is used by architects, local councils, and developers. Basically, anyone planning to use a land, area, or plot for development..
This map is easily accessible online, and you can search by:
- Postcode
- Place name
- National Grid Reference (NGR)
- Easting and northing coordinates
Or you can simply explore the map manually.
This map gives information about :
- Flood risk assessment requirement
- Different flood zones(1,2,3)
You can also request detailed flood risk data from the Environment Agency and even print the map. People applying for planning permission also use this map.
How to Interpret the Long-Term Flood Map
Once you open the long-term flood map report, it is important to understand the layout of the map to understand it. The long-term flood risk map includes flood risk sources and risk levels.
Flood risk levels are defined by an annual probability of a flood. For example, in a high Risk area (3.3% chance per year), the likelihood of experiencing at least one flood over 25 years is about 57%. For Medium Risk areas (1–3% per year), the 25-year probability ranges from 22% to 53%, while Low Risk areas (0.1–1% per year) present a 2.5% to 22% chance. Even Very Low Risk areas still carry around a 1–2% chance of flooding over 25 years.
The flood risk level is also broken down by sources: rivers/coast vs surface water vs reservoirs. Many inland areas have a higher surface water flooding risk as compared to river risk. Same way, if you are living near a reservoir, the map can show “reservoir flooding” in case a dam fails.
Consider a medium or a high risk as a warning sign and take appropriate measures. Assess your flood insurance or think about a professional flood risk assessment. Additionally, long-term flood maps also provide you with a future climate scenario to take proactive long-term measures.
Regional Guidance: Long Term Flood Risk Tools in Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
If you are living outside England, but in the UK, and wondering how do I get to know your area’s long term flood risk? Do not worry, we have you covered. Let’s break down how to get to know long term flood risk based on different regions in the United Kingdom.
- England: We have already mentioned this. People of England can use the gov.uk. “Check Long-Term Flood Risk” map for postcode lookup.
- Wales: Natural Resources Wales also provides an identical map system. You can go to the “Check your flood risk by postcode” service on the NRW website or refer to notifications of long-term risk on their site.
- Scotland: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also provides a “Long Term Flood Risk” map. It shows long-term river/sea/surface risk for any postcode in Scotland.
- Northern Ireland: The Department for Infrastructure’s “Flood Maps NI” provides flood risk maps. You can access these via NI Direct or the DfI website, which covers both fluvial/coastal and surface water risks.
In summary, the official English service covers England only, while Wales, Scotland, and NI each have their own interactive map tools (see above links) that work in a similar abi.org.uk. Homeowners and developers should use the correct national map for their country. (The Citizens Advice “Flood Advice” page also points users to the right agencies: flood maps on gov.uk for England/Wales, SEPA for Scotland, NI Direct for Northern Ireland)
How to Reduce Long-Term Flood Risk
If the long-term flood map shows you are at risk, there are many steps you can take to reduce the risk and prevent substantial damage.
- Install flood barriers and non-return valves: Install permanent or portable flood gates at doorways. Use non-return (backflow) valves to stop sewage water from entering your home during a flood.
- Raise utilities and use water-resistant fixtures: The government of England has been advising the people to install raised electrical sockets, wiring, boilers, and white goods (washing machine, freezer, etc.) above expected flood levels.
- Landscaping and drainage: Use rain gardens, swales, or permeable paving for runoffs. Regularly clean your drainage area to avoid water blockage. In case of downpipes, ensure they discharge away from foundations.
- Insurance: Recheck and ensure that your insurance covers floods. In case the insurance does not cover it, check if you are eligible for the Flood Re scheme (house built before 2009, in a high-risk area, etc.) moneyhelper org.
- Get a professional Flood Risk Assessment (FRA): If you come under the medium or high risk of flood, you can also opt for a flood risk assessment. An FRA gives a detailed analysis of possible flood sources and also provides preventive strategies. Most FRAs meet national and local planning policies, support a smoother planning application, and guide design changes that can reduce costs and prevent future flood damage.
- Keep an emergency kit: The Emergency kit includes sandbags, battery-powered pumps, or a generator. You should also have a food plan and pre pre-decision of where to move your valuables.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use the official gov.uk service to search by postcode and address, which shows long-term flood risk from rivers, the sea, surface water, groundwater and reservoirs.
Understanding long-term flood risk helps with planning, insurance decisions and implementing measures that reduce future damage and exposure to flooding.
Actions include investing in property-level flood resilience, reviewing drainage and landscaping, and engaging with local flood risk management authorities for guidance.