Flood Map for Planning Update: New Climate Change Layer

On the 27^th August 2025, the Environment Agency introduced another significant enhancement to the Flood Map for Planning (FMfP). Following the NaFRA2 updates in April 2025, this change adds a new combined flood-risk layer designed to make planning applications clearer and simpler for developers, planners and architects.

Flood Map for Planning: What’s changed in August 2025?

• A new layer, ‘Flood Zones plus climate change’, is now live.
• It merges Flood Zones 2 and 3 extents, showing how they may expand over the next century under climate change scenarios.
• Older, more complex layers (rivers/sea with and without defences, multiple annual exceedance probabilities) have been removed from the public FMfP view.
• These datasets remain accessible via the Defra Data Services Platform (DSP) for detailed technical analysis.

No new flood-risk areas have been identified. The update is about simplification, not reclassification.

Why the Flood Map for Planning update matters

This latest FMfP update will:

• Provide a single, clearer view of flood risk when considering climate change.
• Make it easier to determine when the Sequential Test applies.
• Speed up decision-making for planners, developers, and architects preparing applications.

While this update simplifies the public view, site-specific flood risk assessments (FRAs) are still required for planning submissions.

How does the change affect planning applications?

• All new planning applications must use the updated flood map layer.
• Ongoing applications are unaffected, as there is no change to the underlying risk.
• GIS data feeds should be updated to reflect the new layer.

For technical analysis, the more detailed datasets remain available through DSP, but the FMfP will now act as a simpler first screening tool.

Future Flood Map for Planning updates

This is the second in a series of three planned FMfP enhancements. The next update, expected in autumn 2025, will include:

• Surface water climate change extents.
• Banded depth information.

These will provide even greater insight into how flood risk evolves under climate change scenarios.

How GeoSmart can help Developers, Planners and Architects

Understanding the map is only the first step. Local Authorities require site-specific evidence to show that developments are safe from flooding and sustainable in the long term.

At GeoSmart, we provide:

• Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) aligned with the latest FMfP updates.
• SuDS Reports that integrate climate change allowances.

We work with architects, planners, developers, and consultants to interpret the latest data, prepare regulator-ready reports, and ensure planning success.

Get in touch to see how the August 2025 FMfP changes affect your site or project.

Final thoughts

The August 2025 Flood Map for Planning update introduces a new ‘Flood Zones plus climate change’ layer that simplifies how flood risk is displayed. While the science and underlying data remain the same, this change makes the map more accessible for planning.

But planning submissions still require detailed, site-specific evidence. GeoSmart’s flood risk and SuDS reports ensure your application is compliant, viable, and future-proofed against climate change.