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We are a dynamic flood risk assessment consultancy with substantial experience in supporting planning applications for sectors such as housing, commercial, recreational, renewables and infrastructure.
Our highly experienced chartered engineers are abreast of the latest legislation and flood modelling data to protect your development from flooding and make it a reality.
Our expertise enables us to provide full range of services for any size development. We are able to create 1D and 2D river models and assess your development within flood zone 2 and flood zone 3, critical drainage areas or in areas where the flood levels are unknown. We can also produce sequential tests and exception tests for your site.
Using responsive intuitive data assessments, we have been able to protect communities and infrastructure from flooding. We understand the requirements of the Environment Agency and Local Councils and work in partnership to make your development a reality.
Our Clients
Our flood risk assessment provides a detailed analysis of multiple sources of flood risk proving specific mitigation strategies that apply to your development.
You receive clear and specific advice which:
Meets the local and national planning policies
Costs effective in the mitigation o flood risk
Enables you to make informed changes to the design and achieve planning
Safeguard your development from flooding throughout its lifetime
Contact us today on 01608 510121 or get a free quote
Join the hundreds of architects, planners and developers who are using responsive technical data and clear engineering judgement to get their developments underway.
Our Reports
Choose your required flood risk assessment. If you are uncertain about your requirements, give us a call, we are happy to talk you through the options.
Contact us today on 01608 510121 or get a free quote
The benefits of using our flood risk assessments for your planning application
You receive the first reports in 48hrs. This allows you to register your planning application
Reduced the time and costs associated with delayed planning applications
Increased chances of obtaining planning permission for your developments
Helps you make design decisions based on detailed knowledge of flood risk mitigation and interventions
Fixed price for all our flood risk assessments
We support you through the planning application until a decision is made
When would you get your flood risk assessment?
You will get the initial flood risk assessment in 48hrs. You can validate your planning application right away if you have a tight timescale. You can also use this report to inform your design team of the possible flood risks constraints and resilience interventions.
The final flood risk assessment report can take up to 25 working days. The Environment Agency has a response time of 21 working days. In some cases, we can obtain the data within 3 weeks; however it depends on their workload.
We use our geographic information system (GIS) and our computer aided software to complete a detailed analysis of the flood risk on your development and produce the report.
During this process, we maintain the design team up to date on the findings and liaise with the relevant agencies to make sure your development gets the best chance to obtain planning permission.
Our Flood Risk Assessment Methodology
Our flood risk assessment methodology is based on obtaining the best possible data and using our engineering judgement and experience to get your development through planning.
We work collaboratively with architects, planning consultants and the Environment Agency.
The flood risk assessment methodology includes
Obtaining your development’s drawings and levels
Consulting the available databases and obtain all relevant flood risk information
Liaising with the Environment Agency and local planning authorities to understand their requirements
Agreeing with the Environment agency your flood risk assessment climate change allowance
Evaluating the detailed flood risk information for river, sea, groundwater, run-off, reservoirs, and critical drainage areas
Providing clear advice on how to mitigate the risk of flooding
During this process, we are proactive in giving you proven solutions to flooding and are available to discuss design approaches that architects or designers may have.
Our Civil and Structural Engineering backgrounds ensures robust solutions that strengthen your planning approval whilst following the Environment Agency standing advice for flood risk assessments.
Contact us today on 01608 510121 or get a free quote
Our Flood Risk Assessment Maps
They have been made with you in mind
Our flood risk assessment map for England has been developed to check if your development is in a flood zone or affected by other sources of flooding.
You will be able to see the risk of flooding from rivers or sea (planning), flooding from surface water and reservoirs or whether the development is affected by surface water run-off.
We have taken this information directly from the Environment Agency databases and prepared it so you can check in detail if your development need a flood risk assessment.
You can also check the following maps
Flood Maps England: Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning
Northern Ireland: Flood maps (NI)
Our Detailed Services
We provide a flood risk risk tailored to your needs, these are the detailed services we can also offer as part of the flood risk assessment.
Detailed sequential and Exception Tests
We combined our excellent flood risk expertise with highly experienced planning consultants to create the fastest most reputable sequential test for your planning applications.
1D & 2D Detailed River Modelling
Our detailed flood river models are cost-effective, giving your development the best chance to achieve planning approval.
Flood Warning and Evacuation Plans
Our flood warning and evacuation plans are site specific; our extensive experience gives us a clear understanding of how to make your development safer.
Flood Risk Mitigation
We provide independent, impartial and professional advice to property owners, developers, businesses and communities wanting to mitigate and reduce the impact of flooding.
Drainage Strategies
Chartered Civil and Water Management engineers with substantial experience in drainage strategies reports. Common sense approach and technical acumen. Fully compliant with national and local guidance
Flood Maps
Get the latest flood map for planning. You can see in detail the risk of flooding. Reliable flood risk data in one single place
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a flood risk assessment required?
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has determined that any new development or change of use requires a flood risk assessment to make sure the development is safe and does not cause flood impact to others. The NPPF and its Technical Guidance is based on law and all the councils should ensure that it is followed.
Who approves a flood risk assessment?
The flood risk assessments approved by the Environment Agency and the Local Council. The approval level depend on the size of the development, flood risk type and user vulnerability.
The Local Council approves the flood risk assessments for small developments with run-off flood risk and less vulnerable users. The Environment Agency approves flood risk assessment for all development affected by flood risk from rivers and sea. You can protect your development by using the Nature Based Solutions.
Do I need a flood risk assessment?
A flood risk assessment is required when making a planning application for a development which is located in the floodplain or in an area affected by flooding.
Why does it take 25 days to get a flood risk assessment?
It is because the Environment Agency has the flood water level information for all the major rivers in England. Their statutory response time is 21 working days.
The Environment Agency runs the hydraulic model for the river and produces a Detailed Flood Risk Assessment Map, including flood zones, flood defences, storage areas, areas benefiting from defences, statutory main river designations, historic flood event outlines and more detailed information of computer river models
What is a hydraulic model?
A hydraulic model is a mathematical model which can predict the likely water levels and the flood extent of the river. We use hydraulic modes when the Environment Agency does not have the river levels. Urban Water integrates the management of water within towns and developments and helps you to determine the flood depths.
What does flood zone 2 and 3 mean?
Flood Zones 2 and 3 are flood risk areas. They are determined by storm event probability. There are 4 flood river zones in England. Flood Zone 1 has low flood risk, flood zone 2 has a medium flood risk and flood zone 3 has the highest flood risk.
Flood zone 3 is divided into Flood Zone 3a and 3b.
Flood Zone 3b is an area that the river can use as flood water storage. Flood zone 3a is the watercourse bed or the functional flood plain. This is the area that is used constantly by flood water.
How do I know if my property is in a flood zone?
You know if your property is in the river flood zone by:
Consulting the Environment Agency flood risk map for planning
Determining if part of the house or development is within the blue area i.e. flood zone 2 or a flood zone 3
Obtaining the property ground levels and river flood levels if you are within flood zone 2 or 3. You can obtain the river levels directly from the Environment Agency
Sending an e-mail to enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk requesting the Product 4 information. Attach a drawing showing the location of your property and the post code
Determining the levels of your property by instructing a Topographical Surveyor to complete a level survey of your house. The levels must be in mAOD
Comparing the Environment Agency flood levels and your property levels
Your property is in a flood zone 2 or a flood zone 3 if the flood levels are higher than your property levels
We can help you with this process and clearly indicate if your property is in the flood zone. We can also help you determine the best ways to protect your property from flooding.
Contact us today on 01608 510121 or get a free quote
Is my house at risk of flooding?
To find out if you are at risk of flooding in England you could follow these actions:
Consult the Environment Agency long term flood risk from surface water map
Consult the Environment Agency flood risk map for planning
Consult the Environment Agency flood risk from reservoirs map
Contact your local council asking them for the surface water flood maps for your area and about the risk of groundwater flooding. Send an e-mail to either the Highways department or the local Planning office
The local council can be found On the gov.uk website by using the post code of the property
Send an e-mail to: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk requesting the Product 4 information. Compare the river levels against your property levels
It is not possible to determine if an individual property is at risk of flooding from the maps. Your property can be at risk of flooding even if it is located at the border of a flood risk areas
The best way to determine if your house is at risk of flooding is by comparing the flood levels and the levels of your property. You then add the climate change allowance to all these levels.
The climate chance allowance for England varies between 600mm to 1100mm. This will give a better idea of the depth of flood and allows you to prepare in advance for a flood.
The models are updated every 3 months and the levels given by the Environment Agency should be taken as guidance only. It is important to recognise that flood events can be higher.
For instance in England the Environment Agency gives levels for 1 in 100 and 1 in 200 storm events while in the Netherlands and Germany the levels are for 1 in 500 storm events.
We can help you clearly identify the level of risk that you property has and the steps that you can take to protect your property.
Get in touch with us
Call Arge on 01608 510 121 or e-mail him at arge@rida-reports.co.uk
BEng(Hons) MSC CEng MICE MCIWEM C.WEM CEnv
Any size development within flood zone 1