Flood Risk Reports

A Flood Risk Assessment is required for any planning application where the site of the proposed development is located within Flood Zones 2 or 3 as defined by the Environment Agency. Such sites are considered to be at risk of flooding and the Environment Agency and local planning authorities have the power to challenge planning applications that have not taken into account all of the flood risks involved.

A Flood Risk Assessment is also mandatory for sites of 1 hectare or greater in Flood Zone 1, as well as for sites in a critical drainage area, sites at risk of surface water flooding, and where the long-term flood risk map shows the site is at increased risk of flooding from rivers or sea during its lifetime.

If your Site is in England, your site will be located in a Flood Zone as defined by the Environment Agency for planning purposes. To find out what Flood Zone your site is located in, input your postcode into the Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning available online.

If your Site is in Wales, your site will be located in a Flood Zone as defined by Natural Resources Wales for planning purposes. To find out what Flood Zone your site is located in, input your postcode into NRW’s Flood Map for Planning available online.

If your Site is in Scotland, your site will be located in a Flood Zone as defined by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for planning purposes. To find out what Flood Zone your site is located in, input your postcode into SEPA’s Long Term Flood Risk Map available online.

• House builders and developers
• Property professionals such as architects, planning consultants and land agents
• Lawyers and solicitors
• Lenders, banks or mortgage providers
• Businesses
• Private individuals
• Insurance companies
• Asset managers

• Validating planning applications
• Meeting planning conditions
• For land and property purchase
• For the sale or divestment of a site
• Due diligence
• Lending, mortgages, pension funds
• Business risk assessment
• Asset manager portfolio

A FloodSmart Report for Sites located in Flood Zone 1 can be delivered within 5-10 working days.

Delivery of reports requiring EA, NRW or SEPA consultation and data (FloodSmart Plus and FloodSmart Pro) is dependent on their response times to supply such data, which can typically take up to 20 working days. Typically your flood risk report will be dispatched within 10 working days from receipt of the required data.

A premium delivery is available if your report is urgent – do get in touch and let us know.

Your report will be sent in electronic format as a .pdf file straight to your inbox, with hard copies available at an additional cost.

Local planning authorities are likely to request a Flood Risk Assessment for any site which is situated on the modelled flood plain, and within the vicinity of a fluvial or tidal watercourse.

Flood Risk Assessments are also requested in areas of low fluvial or tidal flood risk if a proposed development is over one hectare in size and/or lies within a critical drainage area.

Different levels of flood risk assessment reports are required for different purposes. We’ve therefore developed a range of products which are suited to meet the various needs of our clients. If you’re not sure which level of report you need please contact us at enquiries@geosmartinfo.co.uk.